/ 
MEMOIRS 

OF 

m}t atfe 

OF 

STEPHEN CRISP, 

WITH 

SELECTIONS FROM HIS WORKS. 



BY SAMUEL TUKE. 



" Religion next to her o-wn light and energy on tbe minds of 
men, has aot a more popular argument in her favour than the 
lenience and constancy of her afflicted confessors." 

Besse. 



Y©3R3K: 

PRINTED ASD PCBLISHED BY W. ALEXANDER AND SON, 

CASTLEGATB J 

SOLD ALSO BY HARVEY AND DARTON, W. PHILLIPS, AND 

W. DARTON, LONDON ; 

AND CHRISTOPHER EEXTHAM, DUBLIN. 

1824. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 



INTRODUCTION 



Letters from Stephen Crisp to several persons, and from 

J, Parnel, W. Penn, and others, to him 1 

Journal written by himself 25 

Review of his works, viz : 
No. I. A Word of Reproof to the Teachers of the 

World 109 

II. A Description of the Church of Scotland 110 

III. & IV. Letters to the Mayors of Colchester Ill 

V. An Epistle concerning the present and succeed 

ing Times. .. 117 

VI. Some Harvest Meditations 122 

VII. A Plain Pathway Opened 123 

VIII. A Backslider Reproved 139 

IX. A Letter from Germany to Friends 142 

X. Glad Tidings to all the Mourners in Germany. . 143 

XI . An Epistle to Friends in Colchester 146 

XII. An Answer to T. Loddington 14TJ 

XIII. An Epistle to Friends 151 

XIV. Translation of two Epistles to Friends at Am- 

sterdam 1 52 

XV. Epistle on meeting at set Times ,.- 153 



IV CONTENTS. 

XVI. An Alarm to Spiriitual Egypt 155 

XVII. Address to the Magistrates of GroniDghen... 212 

XVIII. Lamentation over Groninghen 215 

XIX. Address to the Baptists in Holland 232 

XX. Testimony concernng Edward Graunt 234 

XXI. An Epistle when a Prisoner 235 

XXII. Epistle to Friends 239 

XXIII. in the North 244 

XXIV. in the Eastern parts 247 

XXV. Another Epistle to Friends 247 

XXVI. To the Rulers and Inhabitants in the United 

Provinces 252 

XXVII. Epistle to the Princess Elizabeth 271 

XXVIII. to Friends at Ipswich 2S3 

XXIX. of Tender Counsel and Advice ... 286 

XXX. to Friends at Dantzick S07 

XXXI. A Babylonish opposer of Truth reproved ... 313 
XXXII. An Epistle to Friends in Norwich 314 

XXXIII. in Amsterdam 317 

XXXIV. A Faithful Warning and Exhortation ib 

XXXV. An Epistle to Friends 347 

XXXVI. A Tender visitation to French Protestants . . 353 

XXXVII. Epistle of Tender Love to all the Churches 

throughout the World 374 

Extract from a Sermon 403 



INTRODUCTION. 



When I undertook to make a selection 
from the Works of Stephen Crisp, it was my 
intention to prefix to it a Biographical Notice, 
drawn from the Journal which he has left of his 
own life, and from some other documents, in a si- 
milar manner to those Notices of members of the 
Society of Friends, which have been already 
presented to the public by my late revered Fa- 
ther. But on making the attempt, I found that 
there was little in the Journal which could 
with propriety be omited ; and that it was so 
excellent as a whole, and so characteristic of 
the simplicity, piety and talent of the Author, 
that it could not, with justice to him or to the 
reader, be curtailed or combined with any 
thing of my own. 

It is not unusual with those who write 
Memoirs of themselves, to dwell with too much, 
particularity on those events in their history 
which are of little interest toothers ; and the 
editors of such productions have more fre- 
a 3 



Yl INTRODUCTION. 

quently to exercise a friendly discretion in the 
omission, than in the addition of circumstances,. 
But the sketch which Stephen Crisp has left of 
his long and laborious life, is chiefly the history 
of Ins religious course — of the means by which 
he was led to the knowledge of what he be- 
lieved to be Truth — and of the labours in 
which he was engaged for its promotion. He 
has not told us the name of his parents— the 
period of his birth — the manner of his educa-. 
tion, or given us any particulars of his family. 
Nor has he mentioned more than two of 
the occasions, on which he underwent im- 
prisonment or other sufferings, for his stead- 
fast adherence to the principles which he 
had embraced, and which he so zealously 
adyocated. There is here an indication of 
that truegreatness of mind, which distinguishes 
the Christian hero. He is engaged in a great 
and arduous conflict; and he forgets, in the 
importance and glory of his enterprise, the 
little incidents which affect chiefly his own 
case or distinction. 

In supplying, through this Introduction, a 

few of the particulars which he has omitted, 

I purpose to notice very briefly some of the 

principal incidents of his life, and to indulge 

in a few observations on his character and 



INTRODUCTION. Til 

writings, which have been suggested in." the 
course of the pleasant task, which I have beea 
induced to undertake. 

Stephen Crisp was born at Colchester, in 
the year 1628; where, by the incidental men- 
tion of his parents, at page 53 of his Journal, 
it appears they were living in the year 1C59. 
From the date of his wife's death, and the 
number of years which he mentions they 
had lived together, it is inferred that he 
married in the year 1648, at the- age of 20. It 
does not appear from his Journal, or any other 
source, whether he was brought up to or fol- 
lowed any business or profession. But from 
the time which he appears to have had in his 
youth for religious pursuits, and the almost 
entire devotion of his time to these objects, 
after he became a Minister of the Gospel, I 
am inclined to think that he had not any secu- 



The very feeling account which he has given 
of his own childhood, affords a striking 
instance of early religious impressions, not of 
a temporary kind, but exercising from year to 
year a strong influence on his conduct. The 
course of his reflections at a very early pe- 



Till INTRODUCTION. 

rlod of life, bespeaks an unusual developement 
of mind ; and, when only from ten to twelve years 
of age, he appears tohave entered with earnest- 
ness, into the religious discussions of the day. 
and he says, he went with " as much diligence 
and cheerfulness to the reading and hearing 
of sermons, as other children* went to their 
play and sportings." 

It is not certain in Avhat religious profession 
lie was educated ; but I incline to think, from 
his having mentioned that he found out the 
meetings of the Separatists when he was seven- 
teen, and from some other passages in his Jour- 
nal, that he was brought up in the profession 
of the established Church. 

As he approached to manhood, the love of 
pleasure appears to have obtained a tempo- 
rary and partial ascendancy over his mind ; 
but, during a considerable portion of this pe- 
riod, he seems to have devoted himself zea- 
lously to the improvement of his understand- 
ing, by reading, and by the observation of 
men and things. For a time, however, he 
says, that he took pleasure in the company of 
the wicked, and, in many things, became like 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

them ; but, during this time, the Spirit of 
Christ struggled within him, which preserved 
him from many of the gross evils in which his 
companions indulged. And, after two or 
three years continuance in this state, he was 
brought deeply to mourn that slavery and 
captivity of sin, under which he laboured ; 
and was made willing to do any thing 
which would enable him to overcome 
evil. 

Under these feelings, he appears to have 
joined the Baptists; and though, for a short time, 
he was again drawn into evil company, he soon 
returned to his religious pursuits ; and I ap- 
prehend it was at this time that be became a 
teacher of a separate congregation, as noticed 
in the testimony respecting him of Colchester 
Monthly Meeting. He still found that he 
wanted a power which was not to be obtained 
by the compliauce with any outward forms, 
or by the mere performance of religious 
rites. 

There is a lively description of his state at 
this time, in a Sermon delivered by him in the 
year 1688 :— 



X INTRODUCTION. 

" I had fasted and prayed in my younger 
years, and spent time in bearing, reading-, and 
meditation, and did all in my own power to 
mend my state, but I could not mend it ; and 
as I grew up in years, sin and corruption more 
prevailed, and I came so far as to believe that 
there was no help, and that if God did not 
help me, I was undone to all eternity. I many 
times wished that I had never been born ; I 
went to ministers and meetings, and to all 
sorts of separate people, and to all manner of 
ordinances, and to all kinds of means, to mend 
this bad heart of mine; to see if I could ob- 
tain a power that would get me victory over 
my corruptions ; but my arm was never so 
long as to reach thereunto. It was far out 
of my power and reach." — See page 426. 

He was under these impressions when James 
Parnel visited Colchester in 1655. Stephen 
Crisp was then twenty seven years of age. Of 
the effect of this young man's preaching upon 
him, and of the influence of the principles he 
was then led to imbibe, with the various and 
deep conflicts into which his mind was intro- 
duced, his own Journal furnishes a very strik- 
ing and affecting relation. 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

I insert among the Letters at the close of 
this introduction, one, of which the original 
is at Colchester, from James Parnel to his 
convert. 

It is a remarkable circumstance "which 
I may be allowed here to mention, 
that the Society in the counties of 
Cambridge, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, 
was first raised and became very numerous, 
principally through the labours of three 
instruments, James Parnel, William Caton, 
and George Whitehead, neither of whom 
had attained the age of twenty years. 

Despised and persecuted as were the peo- 
ple who held the principles which Stephen 
Crisp had now embraced, he appears not 
to have hesitated in his choice of them, 
as soon as he believed them to be con- 
sistent with truth, and calculated to promote 
his progress in righteousness. And from this 
period to that of his death, the steadfastness of 
his character was remarkable ; and no doubt 
appears to have arisen in his mind as to the 
correctness of theprinciples of the Society of 
Friends, to which he had then attached himself. 



XII INTRODUCTION. 

For a few years, lie appears to have been 
diligently engaged in the affairs of the Society, 
in and about his native place ; but, though much 
occupied in private ministrations both spiritual 
and temporal, it does not appear that he acted 
in the capacity of a public Minister of the 
Gospel until the year 1659, about four years 
after his convincement. At this period he 
believed it his duty to visit Scotland, to bear 
■witness, as he says, "to the Name of the Lord 
to that high professing nation." 

From this commencement of his public la- 
bours, he was engaged, with but little inter- 
mission, in the great work to which he 
had been called ; and he was soon not be- 
hind the chief labourers of that active 
day, in endeavouring to spread the know- 
ledge of Christ, and of that redemption from 
the power of sin in this life, which is alone to 
be attained by an experimental acquaintance 
with his Spirit. 

He was eminently useful in strengthening 
and confirming the infant Society. He ap- 
pears to have visited the meetings of Friends 
in every part of the nation ; and the interest 



INTRODUCTION. Xlll 

which he took in the welfare of each particu- 
lar part — the discernment and judgment with 
which he was favoured — and the spirit of 
meekness and Christian charity which accom- 
panied his zeal, led him to be very highly 
esteemed, and looked upon as a Father in the 
Church. His Epistles, some of which are ad- 
dressed to particular places or districts, and 
others to Friends in general, a very small part 
indeed of which have been printed, strikingly 
exhibit him in this pastoral character ; and 
there was perhaps, with the exception of 
George Fox, no individual who had upon 
him a greater share of the weight and charge 
of the the New Society than Stephen Crisp.* 

The cause in which he had embarked, 
and the course of his labours, exposed him 
to considerable sufferings. Joseph Pes&e 
mentions him, amongst many others, as being 
imprisoned in Essex, between the years 
1656 and 1659. In the course of his journey 
into Scotland, whilst engaged in prayer in 
the meeting at York, he was violently pull- 
ed down, and haled out into the street by 
the Mayor of the city. 



See the Letters, page 6 to 2t. 

b 



AIV INTRODUCTION. 

It appears from his Description of the 
Church of Scotland, "that he received many 
gross insults during the course of his public 
ministrations in that country ; and he particu- 
larly mentions the behaviour of the people of 
Dalkeith, where, he says, " had not the soldiers 
appeared as a stop to their murderous pur- 
poses against him, their works of mischief had 
more appeared." 

In this year 1659 persecution against the So- 
ciety ran very high, and the treatment of those 
who were imprisoned was so cruel, that many 
died in consequence of it. A remarkable in- 
stance of Christian feeling was afforded on this 
occasion, by the brethren who were at large. A 
paper was addressed to the Parliament, signed 
by 1 (30 Friends, of whom Stephen Crisp was one, 
imploring that they might be allowed to take 
lac places of their friends, in the filthy holes 
and dungeons where they were perishing ! 

In the following year, on a visit to Friends 
in {he North of England, he was imprisoned 
in the County of Durham, in consequence of 
being at a meeting at Norton, and, on the well 
known ground of a scruple against oaths, re- 
fusing to iake the oath of allegiance and supre- 
macy ; and in the same year he appears, with 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

many others, to have been very inhumanly 
treated at Cambridge, by a mob of students and 
others, who attacked them whilst meeting in 
their own "hired house for the purpose of wor- 
ship. On this occasion an address was pre- 
sented to King Charles II. signed by 29 of the 
chief sufferers, among whom is to be ob- 
served the name of Stephen Crisp.* 



* The foUow«ng extract fnoffi this document may serve to 
show the spirit of the times : and may also serve to stimulate 
our gratitude for the privileges which the Society has now 
long enjoyed, under the government and legislature of this 
country, and for the altered tone of feeling towards the 
Society, which prevades the public mind. 

*' On the second day of the 5th month, as we were 
gathering together to a general Meeting, at the usual 
place there being our own hired house, a tumult of scholars, 
lewd women, townsmen, and boys, gathered also about the 
meeting-place; not content with the former injuries, 
insolencies, and indignities, acted and expressed toward the 
Lamb's followers, about a month before, neither ashamed nor 
afraid to do the same things again, though the Heads and 
Governors both of Town and University were made acquainted 
with the former riot, but rather encouraged, in that their t'e- 
served punishment was delayed. Some of them, prepared 
with excess of drink, that they might forget all humanity, 
and shew no mercy, suffered none to pass them without 
some abuse or other ; stopping and thrusting us to and fro, 
throwing some down, or throwing dirt or filth upon their 
elothes, or in their faces ; and also beating some hack 
again, and not suffering them to go into the Meeting, 
mingling much scoffing, reviling, and threatening, with 
the rest of their mis-usages ; and not ceasing there, 

b 2 



x *l INTRODUCTION. 

In the year 1661, Stephen Crisp was taken 
from a meeting which he was attending in a 
private house at Harwich, and committed to 
prison, the Justice writing his mittimus before 
lie had taken his examination. In the follow- 
ing year the Major of Colchester broke up a 
meeting at which Stephen Crisp was present, 
and committed him to prison. In 1663 
lie was again imprisoned at Colchester, during 
which he wrote two letters to the Mayor 



fell upon us in our peaceable meeting, as we were waiting 
upon the Lord in fear, striking at those they could reach, 
flinging at others, and making an hideous noise, with scoffing, 
laughing, railing, shouting, knocking, drumming upon the 
boards, and sometimes throwing wildfire and gunpowder into 
the meeting, to drown the sound of that which was spoken to 
us in the name of the Lord; and continually exercising them- 
selves in one act of mischief or other, to make a disturbance, 
and weary us out of the place. And when they saw they 
could not do it by all those means, they brake and battered 
down the doors and walls next the street, with bolt hammers 
and other engines ; and though we reminded them of the 
King's declaration, wherein he promised liberty to tender con- 
sciences, at his first coming into England, and shewed them 
the unlawfulness of their doings, assaulting, breaking in upon 
us, and beating us in our own hired house, they called us 
rebels, and pretended the King's order for what they did ; 
and ran violently upon us, and used us as if our lives were all 
at their mercies, haling, thrusting us out, and striking both 
men and women, (though not lifting up a hand against them,) 



INTRODUCTION". XYil 

of that town, from which extracts will be 
found in this volume ; and as it appears 
that, at the time of the letter which is placed 
first in the collection of his works, he had 
been forty-eight weeks in confinement, and the 
latter is evidently addressed to a new Mayor, 
there is little doubt that this imprisonment 
was for more than a year. In the year 1868 
he was imprisoned at Ipswich; the occasion or 
duration I cannot ascertain. One of his most 



■without any pity or respect to age or other condition, with 
clubs, great splinters, and pieces of the doors, and other tim- 
ber. And though tbey that entered the house beat us with 
so much cruelty, yet would not their Outguard let us pass, 
till they also had satisfied their bloody minds in beating us 
again, so that very many of us were sorely hurt and bruised. 
Twenty-two had their bloodshed: and one so lamed that he 
was left behind, unable to walk abroad ; and a woman almost 
killed by their cruel usage. And besides this, some of us lost 
our hats, and many of us had our clothes rent, and much be* 
spattered and bedaubed ; and yet our persecutors were not sa- 
tisfied with all this. When they had driven us from the house, 
and cleared the streets of us, they returned and quite battered 
down the rest of the walls and bays on each side of the meet- 
ing-house, next two entries, and laid it all open to the 
streets ; then sought and hunted up and down the meeting- 
house again for us; and them they lighted on did very much 
abuse ; and assaulted an Alderman's house where some of us 
lodged, and beat the man of the house at his own door, and 
departed not so long as it was light." Bes&e vol. i. p. 86. 

b3 



XVlll INTRODUCTION. 

valuable Tracts the "Plain Pathway Opened/' 
is dated from the County Gaol at that 
place. In 1670 he was taken at a meeting 
at Horsley-down,* in London, and fined 201. 
which was most probably obtained by dis- 
traint, as it does not appear that he went to 
prison on the occasion. 

In the early periods of the Society, there 
was a considerable number of persons who had 
embraced its principles, in the United Pro- 
vinces,and in some parts of Germany. William 
Ames, William Caton and John Higgins had 
been chiefly instrumental in planting the So- 
ciety there ; but the watering of it devolved for 
many years upon Stephen Crisp. And he was 
eminently instrumental in confirming and 
increasing the Society in those parts, during 
the severe persecutions which attended its 
professors in almost every place.§ 



* The Meeting-house at this place was shortly after pulled 
down by order of the King [Charles II.] in Council! ! 

^ Meetings appear to have been established at Dantzick, 
Embden, Hamburgh, Cresheim near Worms,- Amsterdam, 
Rotterdam, Gonda, Hoorne, Leyden, Alckmaer, &c. 



INTRODUCTION. XlX 

He visited the Low Countries, first in the 
year 1663 ; a second time in 1697, when, in 
company with Josiah Coale r he says, they 
spent about three months in visiting the 
Churches. It is probable that, during this 
journey, he was at most if not all the places 
on the Continent where Friends were settled. 
During each of the years from 1669 to 1674 
inclusive, he spent a considerable time in visit- 
ing various parts of the United Provinces, 
and some places in Germany, where a consi- 
derable number of persons were suffering per- 
secution for their adherence to the principles 
of Friends. In his visit in 1669, he was able 
to speak freely in public, in the Low Dutch 
language. He was engaged in the establish- 
ment of Meetings for Discipline ; and he ob- 
serves, that he found at that time the care of 
the Churches in those parts particularly laid 
upon him. From the period of his first visit 
in 1663, to the last in 1685, he visited the 
United Provinces thirteen or fourteen times. 
And in the interval of those visits he kept 
up, by writing, a frequent correspondence 
with the Friends in those parts, much to 
their satisfaction and edification; as appears 
by letters from William Caton and others, 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

addressed to Stephen Crisp, the origi- 
nals of some of which are yet pre- 
served. 

It is worthy of observation, that, though he 
repeatedly visited the places where persecu- 
tion was the hottest ; had intercourse with 
those who were in prison ; and expostulated 
boldly,* in persou and by letters, with Ma- 
gistrates and other persons in authority ; he 
does not appear to have received any personal 
injury, or to have been imprisoned, in the 
course of his foreign labours. In several in- 
stances, he was successful in obtaining a re- 
laxation of those edicts under which his friends 
suffered so severely ; and he appears, in most, 
if not in all instances, to have commanded 
the respectful attention of those whom he 
addressed. 

His ' Address to the Magistrates of Gronin- 
ghen," his " Lamentation over that City," and 
his " Address to the Inhabitants of Holland," 
from which considerable extracts will appear 



* See his own Journal, pages 64. 68. 72. 73. 83, &c. 
and Nos. 17. 18. 26. of his Works. 



INTRODUCTION. XXI 

in this volume, prove how well qualified he 
was to defend the principles of religious 
liberty, and how just were his views in regard 
to the true interests of nations. 

On several trying occasions in the early pe- 
riod of the Society in England, he took an 
important part, and particularly on the occa- 
sion of an opposition which arose about 
the year 1C80, to the establishment of the 
Discipline, or of any forms or order in the 
Society.* Several of the printed Epistles, 
from which extracts are made in this volume, 
refer to this occasion; and that entitled, " An 
Epistle of Tender Love and Brotherly Advice 
to all the Churches of Christ," contains an in- 
teresting account of the establishment of the 
Discipline ; and very ably exposes that dispo- 
sition which, under the pretence of higher 
spirituality, disdains all regulations, and con- 
tends for that independence in society, which 
Robert Barclay has justly said is a contradic- 
tion in terms. 






* It was in reference to this occurrence, that William Penn 
wrote his" Liberty Spiritual," and Robert Barclay his mas- 
terly book, " The Anarchy of the Ranters." 



XXU INTRODUCTION. 

Stephen Crisp was far from confining his la- 
bours in this cause to his printed Epistles. He 
visited many of the places where opposition 
prevailed, and laboured with affectionate 
earnestness, in public and private, to restore 
those who had wandered, and to stop the pro- 
gress of the evil; and some remakable in- 
stances of reclaiming those who had been led 
astray, were the fruits of his labours, and of 
those of his fellow helpers. 

Although he mentions in his journal, that 
in the Autumn of the year 1676, he finds him- 
self less able to travel than he had been before ; 
yet it appears to have led to very little inter- 
mission of his religious labours; for he says he 
passed that winter in visiting the churches in 
Essex and Suffolk, and being sometimes in 
London. 

The manner in which he mentions the death 
of his wife, in 1683, is very instructive. Great as 
was the trial, he dwells less upon the privation 
he was then called to bear, than on the mercy 
of God, which had allowed her to continue so 
long with him, 35 years, and to be so great 
a comfort to him in all his afflictions. It is 
evident by a passage in his Journal, page 56. 



INTRODUCTION. XX1I1 

that they had children ; but whether any of 
them were living at this time, I cannot as- 
certain. 

His second marriage, which took place in 
the year 1685, appears to have been the source 
of much comfort to him during the two years 
which his second wife was permitted to live 
with him; and her death in 1687, when his 
bodily infirmities were increasing, afforded a 
fresh proof of that patient resignation to the 
Divine will, of which he was so remark- 
able an example. Neither afflictions nor the 
decay of strength, could separate him from 
that love of God in Christ Jesus which had 
prompted his arduous labours. His" zeal was 
unabated, but his services were, from this pe- 
riod, chiefly devoted to the city of London, 
and his own neighbourhood. 

John Field, who wrote a Preface to the -Works 
of Stephen Crisp, says, that "Although in the 
latter part of his time he was unable to travel 
much, yet was he very diligent in frequenting 
Meetings, and preaching the Gospel therein ; 
and to exhort friends to brotherly love, pro- 
voking to good works, and pressing them to 
diligence, and an exemplary conversation; and 



XXIV INTRODUCTION. 

to train up their youth and children in that 
"way of plainness and simplicity, that became 
the humble disciples of our Lord Jesus 
Christ." 

It appears that he was in London, in the 
latter part of 1688, during the time of the great 
revolution of Government. Sewel mentions 
that, in this year, when King James was anxious 
to bring the Roman Catholics into power, and 
with that view encouraged the appointment of 
Dissenters to the office of magistrate, an offer 
of this appointment was made to Stephen Crisp, 
which he refused. From this proposal we 
may perhaps infer, that be was in easy circum- 
stances, and generally esteemed. 

The instructive Journal of Stephen Crisp 
closes with the year 1G89, in which he again 
visited London, and exerted himself with 
others to obtain the suspension of the penal 
laws, by which the Society had suffered such 
severe persecution. 

In the years 1690 and 1691, he spent consi- 
derable time in London ; and it is evident from 
some of his Sermons preached in these years, 
and which were taken down and afterwards 
published, that his mental powers were in no 



INTRODUCTION. XXV 

degree enfeebled. In 1692 he again visited 
London, to return no more. John Field gives 
the following account of his peaceful and tri- 
umphant close : 

" On the 24th of the 6th month, 1692, being 
under much bodily weakness and pain, he was 
visited b j his ancient friend and brother Geo. 
Whitehead ; who gave this account of the same, 
as the substance of some words spoke by Stephen 
Crisp, viz. ' I see an end of mortality, yet can- 
not come at it. I desire the Lord to deliver 
me out of this troublesome or painful body. If 
He will but say the word, it is done ; yet 
there is no cloud in my way. I have a full 
assurance of my peace with God in Christ 
Jesus ; my integrity and uprightness of heart 
are known to the Lord, and I have peace and 
justification in Jesus Christ, who made me so, 
(that is, upright to God.) Dear George, I can 
live and die with thee; and my dear love is 
with thee, and to all the faithful in the Church 
of God.' 

" On the 27tb, being the day before his de- 
parture, Stephen Crisp said, ; I hope lam ga- 
thering,' (as his expression was understood,) ' I 
hope, I hope ;' being then scarcely able to speak 



SXV1 INTRODUCTION. 

out his words. G. W. near parting from him, 
asked him, Dear Stephen, wouldst thou any 
thing to friends V After some pause, Stephen 
Crisp gave his answer, viz. 'Remember my 
dear love in Jesus Christ to all friends.' 



departed this life, and died in the Lord, at 
.Wandsworth, in Surry, about six miles from 
London, to which place he was carried for 
the sake of the air, from the house of William 
Crouch, in London, in a litter, to W. C's house 
there. And being very weak, was accom- 
panied by several friends on foot with the 
litter, lest there should be any want of 
assistance. 

{ " And after his decease, his body was 
brought to Grace-church Street Meeting- 
house, in London, where, on the one and thir- 
tieth, a great number of Friends and others 
met to accompany his corpse to the ground ; 
and many living testimonies were borne there, 
by faithful brethren, unto the Truth. And 
then his body was borne on the shoulders of 
his friends and brethren that loved him for 
Truth's sake, unto the burying ground at 
Bunhill fields, and there interred. And seve- 



INTRODUCTION. XXV11 

ral testimonies were also borne there at the 
grave to the Truth, for the sake of those that 
yet remain ; and that all might love and live 
in that which makes lovely and living unto 
G&bd and in his sight ; and persevere in dili- 
gence and faithfulness in the Lord's work and 
service, and keep to that power, and under 
the government of that Spirit, which only is 
sufficient to enable us to follow the steps of 
them that followed Christ ; and that we might 
run our race with cheerfulness, finish our 
course with joy, lay down our heads in peace, 
rest with the Lord for ever, and have a 
place in that kingdom which will never fade 
away." 

The reader of the Journal of S. Crisp, and 
of the selection of his Works here presented to 
the public, will not require much aid in form- 
ing a correct view of his character; but the 
following extracts from the Testimony of the 
Friends of Colchester, given after his decease, 
contains some particulars relative to him 
which are not to be obtained from the other 
sources already mentioned ; and being drawn 
by those who knew him intimately, can 
hardly fail to be agreeable to the reader who 
c 2 



XXVUl INTRODUCTION. 

lias become interested in the subject of these 

Memoirs. 

"He bad," says this Testimony, "a large 
understanding given to him, not only in spi- 
ritual, but also in temporal things, by which 
he was very serviceable to many widows and 
fatherless, and others, as divers can testify, be- 
ing very ready and free to assist them ; and as 
he had freely received, did freely give ; and 
was therein not only serviceable to Friends, 
but also to others of his neighbours. 

" He was zealously and conscientiously af- 
fected for the peace and prosperity of Friends 
in every place ; and for that cause diligently 
laboured amongst them. And when he was 
not able to travel much by reason of his dis- 
tempers, as in former days, he continued 
chiefly in this town of Colchester, and in the 
city of London, in the Lord's work and 
service, as long as strength and ability of 
body lasted. 

"He was of a constant, firm, bold mind and 
spirit, against all those that secretly or 
openly sought occasion to make rents and 
divisions among us in the churches of Christ; 



INTRODUCTION* XXlX 

and laboured diligently to preserve the simple- 
hearted from being betrayed by their snares 
and cunning insinuations ; exhorting them, 
as did the Apostle, to mark those that cause 
divisions, and to avoid them, and to keep in 
the unity of the Spirit, and in the sense of 
the Grace received ; that all might grow up 
in it, into a further discerning of the myste- 
rious workings of the enemy that goes round 
about, and tries every way, to see whom he 
might devour. 

" He had a gift of utterance beyond many, 
was sound in judgment and doctrine, and very 
convincing to the understandings of many 
that heard him; for which cause, his testi- 
mony was affecting to many that were not of us, 
who would come to hear him when he was 
with us. And he would often call to people 
to come and try the sufficiency of the grace 
of God ; that a measure of it was committed to 
them, and whether it was not able to save 
from sin, yea, to the utmost, all such as re- 
ceived and obeyed it. He divided the word 
aright, and turned many from darkness to 
light. Many mourners have been comforted 
by him, and many tender-hearted helped, 
through their inward exercises and conflicts of 
c 3 



XXX iNrilOBUCTION. 

spirit, and he has been a strength to them in 
their spiritual warfare ; but his testimony was 
as a sharp two-edged sword, to the rebellious, 
obdurate, and hard-hearted, to the piercing 
through them many a time : and his very out* 
ward countenance hath sometimes struck to 
the hearts of some, as some have since con- 
fessed. And some that have gotten into a 
spirit of enmity, have been made, through the 
power that did accompany him, to come and 
acknowledge the hurt which that spirit had 
done them, and that the Lord was with him. 

"And at taking his last farewell, when be was 
about to leave us, he was, for several meetings 
before his departure, mightily opened in his 
spirit, in our public meetings, desiring to be 
clear of the blood of all, (as he several times 
of late said he was,) labouring to speak to the 
states of all, and also to Friends services to 
which they were called in their day : to keep 
Truth's testimony clear from all unrighte- 
ous actions, that might be committed by those 
that lived not in that they made profession of, 
and to set judgment over them; saying, if we 
ceased to separate between the precious and 
the vile, the vile would over-run us. Also he 
took notice of, and rejoiced in, the love and 



IJfTRODUCTIOy, XXXI 

unity that had been, and was among us, ex- 
horting and counselling of us to be and con- 
tinue in the same mind, keeping the unity of 
the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

" He was beloved of his friends, his towns- 
men and neighbours, and left or had not many 
enemies, at least more than apostates and 
false professors of the Truth; who forsaking 
and turning their backs on God, no wonder 
such are envious, and opposcrs of his servants, 

" He was very tender and helpful to divers, 
who have been of late called forth into a 
public testimony, and into the same work 
wherein he was himself employed by his 
great Lord and Master, Christ Jesus ; being 
very tender and ready to help forward that 
which he found to come from the motion of 
the Seed of Life in any, and would speak a 
word in season to such. And his last testi- 
mony in our Yearly Meeting on that account, 
is worthy of remembrance. 

"And in his last being among us, he would 
be very weighty in his visits in our private 
families, and much and often dropping some 
weighty discourse among us, for our edifica- 
tion, furtherance, and growth in the Truth. 



XXX11 INTRODUCTION. 

"For all which works' sake, he was much 
esteemed, and was worthy of double honour; 
and we doubt not but is clothed with a large 
share of that honour, glory, and immortality 
with our God, which is the portion of all 
those that faithfully serve and honour the 
Lord in their day, as he did." 

The principal Works of Stephen Crisp, with 
his journal and some other Manuscripts, were 
collected and published in the year 1694. 
There were prefixed to the collection, a Pre- 
face by John Field, Testimonies of Colchester 
Meeting, of the Second-day Morning Meeting 
in London, and of the Yearly Meeting of Am- 
sterdam. Several of the pieces in this collec- 
tion have been separately printed and exten- 
sively circulated, especially the "Plain Path- 
way Opened," and the "Advice to Friends, re- 
specting the present and succeeding Times:" 
and the whole collection has been lately re- 
printed in America. 

It is not to be supposed that all that is 
valuable in the writings of Stephen Crisp, is 
given in the selection contained in this volume. 
The design has not been to take all which A\as 
in itself valuable, but that which was likely 
to be interesting to readers in general of the 



INTRODUCTION. XXX111 

Society of Friends, and thereby to attract the 
attention of our younger members to those 
substantial Truths of which we are making 
a profession, and which appear to be so 
clearly stated and ably supported, in the works 
of this Author. 

If I am not misled by a certain affection for 
the writers of the period in which Stephen Crisp 
lived, the reader of the selections which are here 
presented to him, will not find him a dry or 
uninteresting writer. He speaks on the most 
important topics which can engage human 
attention ; and to the ear which is open to 
hear, he will not, I believe, fail to speak in- 
structively and consolingly ; nor will he be 
found without much of that simple eloquence, 
which flows from a clear and lively mind, 
firmly persuaded of the matters which he de- 
clares, and affectionately earnest to impress 
them upon those whom he addresses. There 
is very little quaintness in his style ; and, 
though not laboured, it has much of the ner- 
vous force which marked the best productions 
of that day. His writings bespeak talents, and 
a turn of mind which might have rendered him 
conspicuous in the ranks of polemical learn- 
ing, and might have led him to honourable dis^ 
.tinction in the world \ but like many others 



xxxiv introduction; 

his contemporaries, not less favoured than 
himself with natural understanding, he chose 
the way which was every where spoken 
against; and despised the shame connected 
with the new profession. 

It is observable that Stephen Crisp rarely 
touches upon points of mere speculative theo- 
logy. His great aim appears to have been to 
bring those whom he addressed, to the con- 
sideration of their own actual state, and to point 
out to them the Spirit of Christ as the enlight- 
ener of the conscience ; by their co-operation 
with which, they would be enabled to subdue 
the corrupt inclinations of the natural mind — 
be redeemed from actual sin in this life — and 
derive a well grounded hope of being made par- 
takers of that precious atonement, purchased 
for us by the outward sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

They who differ from him in sentiment and 
external practices, will not fail to perceive, in 
the whole course of his life and labours, that 
his religion produced, in an eminent degree, 
those genuine fruits, the love of God and of 
his neighbour, on which, our Saviour said, 
" hang all the law and the prophets." This 
feature of love, earnestly seeking the spiritual 
good of others, though often united with very 



INTRODUCTION. XXXV 

plain and forcible reproof, is not less conspi- 
cuous in his private letters ; of which many 
are preserved, and of which a specimen is 
given in the close of this Introduction, with 
some others addressed to himself. 

Whilst speaking of his Works, it may be 
proper to mention, that about two years after 
StephenCrisp's decease, a volume of Discourses, 
said to have been delivered by him at various 
times in London, was published, and had an 
extensive sale. The Preface stated that they 
had been taken down in short hand by a per- 
son not connected with the Society, who 
attended the Meetings where they were deli- 
vered. He invites any who are dissatisfi- 
ed with their genuineness, to call upon him, 
and state their objections ; and in a future vo- 
lume he repeats the invitation, and states that 
no one has yet expressed to him any doubt of 
the correctness of the Discourses. Many edi- 
tions of them have been printed * ; and it 
seems fairly presumable, that, if their genuine- 
ness had been doubted by the Society at the 
time of their appearance, there would have 
been then a public disavowal of them. The 



* A new edition of the whole of the Sermons, 32 in number, 
has lately been published by W. Alexander and Son, York, 



XXXVI INTRODUCTION. 

reader of the Sermons who is acquainted with 
Stephen Crisp's writings will not, I think fail, 
to observe a striking accordance between them, 
both in matter and style. 

In these observations on the genuineness of 
the Sermons, it is not intended to convey a sen- 
timent in favour of the practice of taking down 
the discourses of our ministers. But these 
having been taken down by a person not of 
our society, who did not consider the practice 
improper ; their preservation seems to afford a 
valuable testimony to the Truths most surely 
believed and taught by the Society, in the 
earliest times ; and it is rendered the more 
important from the attempts which have been 
made to misrepresent the views of the early 
friends, as to some fumdamental points of 
Christian doctrine. A copious extract from 
one Sermon, which is stated to have been 
preached by Stephen Crisp, in the year 16S8, 
is inserted in this selection. 

I am aware that it would not be difficult to 
find in the works of Stephen Crisp, and those of 
many of his contemporaries, passages which, 
if written in the present day, would be consi- 
dered as indicating a want of Christian charity. 



INTRODUCTION. XXXVH 

But in judging the conduct of men of other 
times, it is material to take into account 
the circumstances by which they were sur- 
rounded. 

The Society of Friends arose during a period 
"which w ill ever be remarkable in the religious 
history of England. Notwithstanding the 
time which Protestantism had then prevailed, 
much of the bigotry and intolerance of Popery 
remained ; and we had a licentious Court, and 
a superstitious People. The light of a better 
day was just breaking in upon the country ; 
and though there probably were among all 
classes individuals whose eyes were more 
fully opened, the greater number appeared, 
like the man in the Gospel whose sight 
had been partially restored, only to see "men 
as trees walking/' Great religious inquiry 
and agitation prevailed ; and men were run- 
ning from one form and doctrine to another, 
and contending for the various schemes 
to which they attached themselves, with that 
dogmatic violence which is so frequently the 
attendant of imperfect knowledge. 

Some, however, could find no rest in these 
speculations, and were led to see the irt- 
d 



XXXVI INTRODUCTION. 

reader of the Sermons who is acquainted with 
Stephen Crisp's writings will not, I think fail, 
to observe a striking accordance between them, 
both in matter and style. 

In these observations on the genuineness of 
the Sermons, it is not intended to convey a sen- 
timent in favour of the practice oftaking down 
the discourses of our ministers. But these 
having been taken down by a person not of 
our society, who did not consider the practice 
improper ; their preservation seems to afford a 
valuable testimony to the Truths most surely 
believed and taught by the Society, in the 
earliest times ; and it is rendered the more 
important from the attempts which have been 
made to misrepresent the views of the early 
friends, as to some fumdamental points of 
Christian doctrine. A copious extract from 
one Sermon, which is stated to have been 
preached by Stephen Crisp, in the year 1688, 
is inserted in this selection. 

I am aware that it would not be difficult to 
find in the works of Stephen Crisp, and those of 
many of his contemporaries, passages which, 
if written in the present day, would be consi- 
dered as indicating a want of Christian charity. 



INTRODUCTION. XXXV11 

But in judging the conduct of men of other 
times, it is material to take into account 
the circumstances by which they were sur- 
rounded. 

The Society of Friends arose during a period 
which will ever be remarkable in the religious 
history of England. Notwithstanding the 
time which Protestantism had then prevailed, 
much of the bigotry and intolerance of Popery 
remained ; and we had a licentious Court, and 
a superstitious People. The light of a better 
day was just breaking in upon the country ; 
and though there probably were among all 
classes individuals whose eyes were more 
fully opened, the greater number appeared, 
like the man in the Gospel whose sight 
had been partially restored, only to see "men 
as trees walking." Great religious inquiry 
and agitation prevailed ; and men were run- 
ning from one form and doctrine to another, 
and contending for the various schemes 
to which they attached themselves, with that 
dogmatic violence which is so frequently the 
attendant of imperfect knowledge. 

Some, however, could find no rest in these 
speculations, and were led to sec the in- 
d 



XXXV111 INTRODUCTION. 

sufficiency of all outward rites and ceremo- 
nies — that the great doctrine of the Gospel 
is the regeneration of the human heart ; and that 
the only means and way to attain to it, is that 
light or grace which, comes by Jesus Christy 
and which sanctifies, purifies, and brings to 
Him, by whom alone the entrance is minis- 
tered into the heavenly kingdom. (See "page 
337.) Amongst those who adopted these sim- 
ple views of the nature of Christianity, the 
Society of Friends were at least conspicuous ; 
and they were of course very obnoxious to all 
who were placing dependance upon external 
rites, or, who were supporting religious insti- 
tutions, as the mere instruments of secular 
advantages. Even persons of piety, who were 
attached to the ceremonials of their respective 
churches, viewed the Quakers as a set of dan- 
gerous innovators, and as the enemies of reli- 
gion. Nor were the zeal and plainness with 
which they thought it right to expose what 
i they esteemed the corruptions of the Christian 
church, calculated to allay that asperity of 
feeling which was every where excited against 
them. 

It was the un&appiness of that day, that good 
men did not know one another. It was not, 



INTRODUCTION. XXXIX 

like the present, a time of ease and concord ; 
it was a daj of struggle and conflict. So im- 
perfectly was the right of religious liberty then 
understood, that whilst each party contended 
for its own right of judging, each also, when it 
obtained power, denied the right to others.* 

A considerable degree of enthusiasm was 
engendered ; the strongest passions of men 
were called into action ; and the strength of 
those who were engaged seemed proportioned 
to the occasion. 

The early Friends were certainly not ex- 
empt from the influence of surrounding objects 
and circumstances. Their view of the 
standard of Christian requirements was far 
beyond that of the day in which they lived; 
and, fully persuaded of its correctness, and of 
the omnipotence of Truth, they evidently ex- 
pected that it would very speedily expel error 



* Bishop Taylor's " Liberty of Prophesying," and Lockes' 
Letters on Toleration, both of which appeared at this period, 
prove how superior were those great men to the prevailing 
sentiments of the age ; but, influential as were their works, I 
cannot but attribute the rapidprogress of light upon the subject 
of religious liberty, in a great degree, to the persisting demand 
made for it, by the Society of Friends. And it is deserving of 
notice, that when the Society came to have considerable power, 
in Pennsylvania, the rights of conscience were fully recognized, 
and extended to all. 

d 2 



Xl INTRODUCTION. 

and corruption, and establish its own gentle 
dominion in the earth. 

Man's expectations of results, are as hasty 
as his life is short ; and even the apostles of 
our Lord appear to have fallen into this error 
of hasty anticipation, in regard to the progress 
which the religion of their Divine Master 
should make in the world. But He to whom 
a thousand years are as one day, directs the 
course of events by laws according with His 
own infinite goodness. 

If then, whilst the views of the Society in re- 
gard to War, to Oaths, to the union of secular 
and religious matters, and to the simple nature 
of Christianity, thus exposed them to persecu- 
tion and proscription from the various parties, 
who were struggling in that day for political 
and religious ascendency ; it would be sur- 
prising indeed, if their history afforded no 
instances of indiscretion or enthusiasm.* But 



* A man may be said to be enthusiastic whenever bis 
feelings mislead his jndgment. It is observable, that there is 
nothing which the World more easily forgives than errors of 
this kind, with one exception, and that is in regard to religion. 
A man may be an enthusiastic soldier — an enthusiastic poet — 
an enthusiastic lover — and may carry his enthusiasm on all 
these points to- very absurd lengths, without offence to the 
world : but he whose love for his Maker and Redeemer 



INTRODUCTION. Xli 

they sustained their Testimonies with a noble 
constancy ; their religion, in an eminent degree, 
bore the fruits of love to God and love to men ; 
and he that has well studied their character, 
and has a mind capable of estimating moral 
excellence, will not judge them by the oc- 
casional asperities of manner, so common in 
the controversial writings of that age, or by 
some acts in their history, which we at this 
day may deem unjustifiable; and overlook those 
labours of love, those fights of affliction, those 
sufferings unto death for the testimony of a 
good conscience, and that forgiveness of the 
grossest injuries, which are inscribed on almost 
every page of their early history.* Liberality of 



absorbs his soul, and, who, acting upon an imperfect judg- 
ment, is led to any erroneous views or expectation, commits, 
in the Court of the World, the sin unpardonable. There is, 
let it be remembered, such a thing as too little, as well as too 
much zeal ; and it is worthy of remark, that where religious 
enthusiasm is so severely censured, religious indifferency does 
not rank in the catalogue of offences. 

* It may not be improper to mention herea single instance 
out of many, which might be adduced of Christian meekness. 
On one occasion, when the Meeting at Colchester was 
broken up by troopers with swords and great clubs, whilst a 
trooper was beating one of the sufferers with his sword, the 
blade coming out of the hilt and falling to the ground, the 
friend took it up and gave it to the soldier again, saying : " I 
will give it thee up again. I desire the Lord may not lay this 
day's work to thy charge." 



xlii INTRODUCTION-. 

feeling has indeed made a great progress since 
the period we are speaking of ; yet, much as we 
rejoice in the change, we cannot esteem the 
candour and courtesy which now prevail 
among the various professors of the Christian 
name, as affording so strong an evidence of 
that " Faith which worketh by love," as were 
the labours, the patience, and the forgiving 
temper, excmplied in the conduct of our early 
Friends. 

We are not indeed to forget that the Epis- 
copal Churches of England, Ireland and Scot- 
land boasted, about that time, some of the most 
illustrious names in the galaxy of Christian 
Worthies — Usher, and Beveridge, and Leigh- 
ton, and Taylor, and Cudworth, and Tillotson ; 
nor must we forget the not less excellent names 
of Owen and Baxter. If we add to these 
the names of Fox, and Barclay, and Penn, and 
Crisp, some would probably startle at the alli- 
ance ; but we trust all these Worthies have long 
since forgotten their earthly discrepancies, 
and learned to tune their harps together, to 
the praise of their common Redeemer — 
hymning, 

u Him first — Him last — Him midst, and without end." 



ERRATA. 

In page 252, No. 26. Instead of " From the Original 
Manuscript of a Bookin Dutch" read " From the Original 
Manuscript of a Book Translated into Dutch. 



LETTERS. 



The originals of the following letters are in the 
-collection of Manuscripts belonging to Colchester 
Meeting. My friend James Barker, of that place, 
to whom 1 am indebted for a diligent search among 
those records of the olden times, very justly observes, in 
a letter relative to Stephen Crisp, that "his written 
remains evince him to have been a man very actively 
engaged in promulgating the doctrines of Truth, 
under circumstances of great outward opposition, 
persecution, a^d, at times, personal danger — in keep- 
ing up an extensive correspondence with the early 
and distinguished instruments in the same gi'eat 
cause — that he watched over them and the general 
affairs of the Society with an anxious solicitude and 
vigilance ; and endeavoured, wherever danger ap- 
peared, to encourage, to caution, to warn, as the 
circumstances which gave occasion to his concern 
required; and it is equally evident that he possessed 
a corresponding influence, esteem, and love, in the 
minds of his Friends." The first letter which I shall 
give, is from James Parnel, to Stephen Crisp, which 
must have been writen in the year 1Q55. Though 
the phraseology is peculiar, the sentiments are im- 
portant and interesting 



Friend, 

In that stand, and unto it keep thy mind, 
which lets, thee see thy foes to be of thy own 

A 



2 LETTERS. 

house : thine imagination is an enemy ; thjr 
wisdom is an enemy ; that which hath been 
tby darling is now thy greatest enemy ; there- 
fore now sacrifice up thy darling, and give up 
unto the death, that the just may be raised to 
life, and the righteous Seed may be brought 
forth to reign, and be thy head, and so will 
the head of the serpent be bruised. And this, 
in thy measure, thou comest to read, as in the 
light thou dwellest low, which manifests unto 
thee thy condition; for whatsoever makes 
manifest is light ; and that is the eye which 
must be kept open, which, in the children of 
the world, the god of the world blinds ; by 
this the children of the Light the god of the 
world see, and so the tempter is known, re- 
sisted, and denied. So with this eye set thy 
watch constant ; and let not the fool's eye 
wander abroad, which draws out the wander- 
ing mind after the visible objects ; but stand 
in the warfare, not giving place to the enemy 
nor his delusions ; but be content to become 
a fool, that all selfish thoughts may be judged ; 
and wisdom thou wilt receive from Him that 
giveth liberally, and upbraideth not, to dis- 
cern and know the enemy's wiles s for in the 
cross to thy will and hasty mind ? the gift of 
God is received ; therefore, it is said, he that 
believeth maketh not haste ; be not. therefore s 



LETTER'S. 3 

■weary of the yoke ; for in faith it is made 
easy, and the impatient nature crucified, and 
patience hath its perfect work. 

Therefore be still in the measure of light 
which exerciseth thy mind unto God, and 
will nothing ; but let thoughts be judged, and 
the power of God work, that He may be seen 
to be all. And by this alone principle thou 
mayest be led and acted forth in the cross 
unto the carnal, and the denial of self, in par- 
ticular and in general ; and weigh not what is 
displeased, when God is pleased, for then 
thou givest no just occasion, but the enmity 
is in the world. But that which leads to walk 
towards God in faithfulness, that also leads 
thee to walk towards man with a conscience 
void of offence.; so to that keep thy mind, and 
be not hasty to know any thing beyond thy 
measure; for there Eve lost her paradise : but 
lie down in the will of God, and wait upon 
his teaching, that He may be thy Head ; and 
so thou wilt find the way of peace, and dwell 
in unity with the faithful, though of the world 
thou be hated: for in God is peace and 
well-being. 

James Parnel. 
a 2 



4 LETTERS. 

From S. Crisp to J. R, 

Fni end John R 

I am sorry I have the present occasion of 
writing to thee, and would have foreborne, if a 
necessity had not been upon me for the 
Truth's sake, and for thine ; for I have a deep 
sense of thy danger, and that thou art in the 
way to dishonour thy testimony ; for I am in- 
formed by several who love thee well, that 
they believe thou art run into about three 
hundred pounds debt, to set thyself up as a 
public shop-keeper. Whether they Lave 
dealt will thee about it or no, I know not % 
but alas, John ! what is (he rise and spring of 
this, and what will the issue be? Sink down 
into that which gives a discerning, and thou 
wilt find a secret mistrust, mixed with an 
earthly lust, and a crafty carrying it on, under, 
a shew of Truth : that thereby some other 
things propounded, might the better proceed, 
or be carried on, to (he making t elf somebody; 
and this ground is cursed for ever, and so 
will the fruit be. O! consider, is this tilting 
thyself fir thy testimony, and the keeping 
thyself from entanglements in thy warfare I 
Or is it not rather a making use of the Name 



of the Lord, and of Truth, to plunder others 
by fair means (or words), to get a visible 
estate into thy hand ; and then thou may be 
plundered of it by foul means. It is an easy 
matter to preach and incur fines, when thou 
knows others' goods must bear the loss ; thou 
art on the surest side, and then if it be taken 
away, at last a whining complaint of suffering 
for Truth's sake, must serve instead of paying 
thy debts, as it hath done too many already. 

Dear John, I wish thou would yet take my 
counsel, and send every friend their goods 
home, with the money for what thou hast sold 
of theirs, and take thee to thy employment 
where God blessed thee, and in which thou 
grew up ; and stand ready at the Lord's call, 
that if he please to make any public use of 
thee in his church, thou may be free from 
worldly entanglements; and if not, be content 
with thy daily bread, both inwardly and out- 
wardly ; and seek to adorn the Gospel thou 
hast preached, by a holy, simple, and righte- 
ous conversation ; without which, preaching,, 
believing, and profession, and all the highest 
terras men can imagine, are all in vain, ami 
mil end with an evil savour. 
a 3. 






LETTERS. 



I have written these things, in love to thee 
and the precious Truth, in which my life stands, 
although it is often bowed down, to see so 
many abuse the profession of the holy Truth; 
serving themselves thereupon, and not caring 
to keep up the reputation of it ; but venturing 
the glory of God, the reputation of his 
people, yea, and their own souls also, for the 
reaching af(er their earthly and corruptible 
ends and purposes, -which they have pro- 
pounded to themselves. I might enlarge, to 
shew the many evil consequences attending 
this practice, but hope by what I have written 
thou wilt consider the rest, and still account 
me thy friend in the Truth, 

S. CRISP. 

TkelZth of (he Qffi Month, 1678. 



From Stephen Crisp to William Perm*. 
Dearly beloved in the Lord I 

My soul salutes thee, in the fellowship of 
that life that reigns over death and darkness, 
in which is the kingdom we seek ; and nothing 
enters this kingdom, but what is born of this 



LETTERS, 



life immortal ; and that we may be kept in it 
to the end of oar days, is the humble prayer 
of thy true. and real friend and brother, in this 
heavenly relation, in which thou may feel my 
iegrity in a few words. 



in 



Dear William, I have had a great exercise 
of spirit concerning thee, which none knows 
but the Lord ; fur my spirit hath been much 
bowed into thy concern, and difficulty of thy 
present circumstance ; and I have had a sense 
of the various spirits, and intricate cares, and 
multiplicity of affairs, and they of various 
kinds, which daily attend thee, enough to 
drink up thy spirit, and tire thy soul ; and 
which, if it is not kept to the inexhaustible 
Fountain, may be dried up. And this I must 
tell thee, which thou alio knows, that the 
highest capacity of natural wit and parts, will 
not, and Cannot, perform what thou hast to 
do, viz. to propagate and advance the interest 
and profit of the government and plantation; 
and at the same time to give the interest of 
Truth, and testimony of the holy name of 
God, its due preference in all things : for to 
make the wilderness sing forth the praise of 
God, is a skill beyond the wisdom of this 
•world. It is greatly in man's power to make- 



8 LETTERS. 

a wilderness into fruitful fields, according to 
tbe common course of God's providence, who 
gives wisdom and strength to be industrious ; 
but then, how he who is the Creator, may have 
his due honour and service thereby, is only 
taught by his Spirit, in them who singly wait 
upon Him. 

There is a wisdom in government that hath 
respect to its own preservation, by setting up 
what is profitable to it, and suppressing what 
may be a detriment; and this is the image of 
the true wisdom ; but the substance is the 
birth, which is heavenly, which reigns in the 
Father's kingdom till all is subdued, and then 
gives it up to Him whose it is. There is a 
power on earth, that is of God, by which 
princes declare justice, this is the image; and 
there is a power which is heavenly, in which 
the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, doth 
reign in an everlasting kingdom, and this is 
the substance. By this power is the spiritual 
wickedness in high places brought down ; be 
that is a true delegate in this power, can do 
great things for God's glory, and shall have 
his reward, and shall be a judge of the tribes; 
and whosoever else pretend to judgment wiil 
seek themselves ; beware of them ; the tim^s, 



Iettehs. 9 

ere perilous. All men pretending to be be- 
lievers, have not faith in the Lord Jesus ; thou 
hast a good comprehension of things, wait 
also to receive a sound judgment of men. 

I hope thou mil bear this my style of 
"writing to thee,- my spirit is under great 
weight at the writing hereof, and much 1 
have in my heart, because I love thee much. 
I cannot w«ite much at present, but to lettuce 
know I very kindly received thy letter, and 
was glad to hear from thee, and always shall; 
and my prayer io God is for thee, and you 
all, that you may be kept in the Lord's pure 
and holy way ; and above all for thee, dear 
W, P. whose feet are upon a mountain, by 
which the eves of many arc upon thee : the 
Lord furnish thee with wisdom, courage, and 
a sound judgment ; prefer the Lord's interest; 
and He will make thy way prosperous. 

For my part, I have not been at London 
since the last Yearly Meeting, till now. I 
was last year at the Yearly Meeting at Am- 
sterdam, and there taken with a fit of the Stone; 
it lasted three weeks; and in the winter follow- 
ing, it pleased the Lord to call from me my 
dear wife. As to my body, I grow very crazy 



10 LETTERS. 

and weakly ; can neither ride, nor very well 
go on foot. A mile is a great journey for me ; 
but am in good courage and confidence con- 
cerning the main business 1 am continued for, 
namely, for the service of my God and his 
dear people. Our country, at and about 
Colchester, is very quiet; while other meet- 
ings are laid by for fear, ours is continued 
by faithfulness, and is exceeding large, and 
pretty many lately convinced, to my great 
comfort. Our dear friend Gertruyd continues 
at my house yet, and is a careful nurse to me. 
I know her dear love is to thee ; and many 
times have I heard breathing desires go forth. 
of her to the Lord on thy behalf, from a 
weighty sense of the concern that is upon 
thee. She is at Colchester, but intends to 
come up to the Yearly Meeting. 

Well, dear William, I might write long ere 
all were written that lives in my heart towards 
thee; buiyin summa,I\ovethee well, and salute 
thee dearly in that which is unchangeable, in 
which I remain 

Thy true friend, 

S. CRISP. 
London, 4th of the 3rd Month. 1684. 



LETTERS. II 

From William Penn to Stephen Crisp. 

Dear S. Crisp, 

My dear and lasting love in the Lord's 
everlasting Truth reaches to thee ; with whom 
is my fellowship in the Gospel of peace, that 
is more dear and precious to my soul, than all 
the treasures and pleasures of this world. 
For when a few years are come, we shall all 
go the way whence we shall never return. 
And that we may unweariedly serve the 
Lord in our day and place, and, in the end, 
enjoy a portion with the blessed that are at 
rest, is the breathing of my soul. 

Stephen, we know one another, and I need 
not say much to thee ; but this I will say, thy 
parting dwells with me, or rather thy love at 
my parting. How innocent, how tender, how 
like the little child that hath no guile ! The 
Lord will bless that ground. I have also a 
letter from thee, which comforted me ; for 
many are my trials, yet not more than my 
supplies, from my Heavenly Father, whose 
glory I seek, and the renown of his blessed 
Name. And truly, Stephen, there is work 
enough, and here is room to work in : surely 
God will come in for a share in this planting 



12 LETTERS. 

work, and that leaven shall leaven the lump in 
time. I do not believe the Lord's providence 
had run this way towards me, but that He 
has a heavenly end and service in it: so with 
him I leave all, and myself, and thee, and his 
dear people, and blessed Name in the earth. 

God Almighty, immortal and eternal, be 
with us ; that in the body, and out of the body, 
we may be his for ever ! 

I am, in the ancient dear fellowship, thy 
faithful friend and brother, 

WILLIAM PENN. 

My love dearly to friends, especially ia 
folland, Co 
in the Lord. 



From Stephen Q isp, to a Friend unknown. 

Dearly Beloved, 

In the Lord, my soul salutes thee, as one 
who is brought into my remembrance, by that 
spirit that doth often bow me to thy burdens, 
which, I know, are not a few r . 



LETTERS. 13 

Dear heart, it is nothing but the day that 
expels the night, and the day star brings the 
hope thereof : therefore, my dear friend, for 
as much as it hath pleased God to cause this 
star to appear, and that thou knowest thine 
eye hath seen it; be not discouraged because 
of clouds, but know that the day is at hand. 
And as concerning all Satan's buffetings, 
know and consider, that though they are 
never so many and strong ; yet they are but 
like the waves of the sea, and they are limited. 
Feel thou an habitation in that which limits 
them, and rest in patience ; and possess thy 
soul in that, and it will be well in the end : if 
there were no trials there would not be so 
much need of patience. Dear heart, feel my 
love, which is beyond words. 

So, with my dear love to thy husband, M. 
and Anna, &c. I rest thy true friend, 

S. CRISP. 



From, Stephen Crisp to J. 1. 

Dear Friend J. T. 

It hath been some time in my heart to visit 
thee with a few lines, to express that true love 

B 



14 LETTERS. 

that I have had to thee ever since I knew 
thee ; which love hath been the cause of my 
dealing so truly and plainly with thee from- 
time to time ; for 1 have always had an eye 
and desire to thy preservation in that Truth 
of which thou wert convinced. And I have 
always taken notice, that thy progress in the 
Truth hath beei made harder and more diffi- 
cult to thee, than it is to many, by reason of 
thy natural temper, which is forward and 
unstable, and hath been mixed with a zeal to 
get forward and to attain to high things; 
whereby the enemy, sometimes, hath taken 
his advantage upon thee to thy hurt. And 
then the tender love of God hath again visited 
thee, and shewed thee thy hurt; and thou hast 
been sensible that the Lord's hand hath been 
over thee for good ; and this hath broken and 
melted for a season : but the enemy, who is 
always on his watch, hath sought, even out of 
that tenderness, to lift up thy mind into the 
conceit of some great attainments again; and 
the;, the former tenderness hath been, as it 
were, shut up and closed ; so that neither tlie 
true working of that power, nor the love and 
tender counsel of thy friends and brethren, 
could be discerned for a time ; which hath 
been a grief and exercise to us, the Lord 



BETTERS. 15 

knoweth. Yet, notwithstanding, the love we 
have borne to thee hath not ceased ; but for 
my part, I can truly say, that, from time to 
time, I have had an inward travail upon my 
spirit how to do thee good, and I thank God 
my labour of love hath not been in vain to 
thee ward. 

Dear Jacob, I was exceedingly refreshed 
In the account I received from dear G. D. 
that thou wert open-hearted to friends, and 
that a tender love was in thy heart, working 
thee into more unity than formerly. Well ? 
dear friend, nothing saves us but love, for 
God is Love ; and nothing redeems us but 
righteous judgment administered in that 
love: and where this love is retained in the 
heart, and this pure judgment dwelt in, such 
must needs have fellowship one with another; 
for there all are kept meek and humble, and 
they have nothing nor an > body to exalt, but 
only by the Name in which they find the 
salvation. 

Now, dear Jacob, let me tell thee, I do 
not believe that'all thy temptations are over- 
passed, or that thy enemy hath given over 
his seeking to winnow thee ; and therefore^ 
m2 



16 LETTERS. 

there is a great necessity for thee to keep 
upon thy watch ; and when thou feels most of 
the inflowings of joy, then to be most low, and 
careful to keep thy heart open to the Lord 
and to his people ; and so shalt thou retain 
that which is given thee: whereas, if thou 
give way to that which leads into exaltation 
and much talking, thou may talk it away, and 
then be dry and empty in thyself. The nature 
of the true Seed is, first to take a deep root 
downward, and then to bring forth its fruit 
upward. Therefore, let thy soul affect the 
inward, invisible rooting and growth of 
Truth, more than the outward appearance ; for 
where there is an inward growth to God ward, 
it is seen and discerned by the spiritual eye 
that God hath opened in his children ; by 
which we do appear lovely, amiable, and 
comfortable to each other ; and in this it is 
that the lasting fellowship stands. For if I 
speak with the tongue of men and angels, and 
want this, the life of the Seed will be bur- 
thened and oppressed in them in whom it is 
risen ; though others, whose life stands in the 
affection, may be greatly joyed and lifted up 
thereby: but this will never bring to God> 
nor add any to the body of Christ, nor edify 
his Church. Therefore I have always found 



LETT EH S. IT 

it safe, to keep something in the storehouse 
for ray own food; and to break only that 
bread to others that was given me for that 
purpose. And the same that I have learned by 
experience declare I unto thee, because I love 
thee; and I hope thou wilt be sensible of my 
love, and receive these lines as a token of it ; 
and remember my dear love to thy w fe and 
daughter. Tell her, I am giad to hear good 
news of her, and, if thou writes to me, let me 
hear how it goes with he She - now come 
to years of understanding, and knows the 
leadings of the Light in her own conscience, 
what she may do and speak, and what not; 
and as she is obedient thereunto, she will find 
peace in her own bosom, be a comfort to you, 
and will appear lovely to all her friends. 

So no more, but my true and unfeigned 
love to you all. I rest thy friend in truth, 

STEPHEN CRISP. 



From William Caton, to Stephen Crisp. 

Amsterdam, 9th of lit h Mo. 1662, 

Dear Brother, 

With the salutation of dear and tender iove 
-do I dearly salute thee, having a sense upoa 



18 LETTERS. 

my spirit, of the joy and delight, which thy 
soul hath in the work of our Heavenly Father, 
in which we have been exercised for some 
years ; and for as much as the Lord hath 
made it prosperous and successful in our 
hands, therefore can we rejoice in the fruit of 
our labour, even as I perceive thy soul doth. 

Thine dated the 20th of 10th month, I have 
received ; and thou may be assured it was glad 
tidings to me, to hear of the prosperity of my 
Father's work, in our native country, in such 
a season as this, wherein the faith and patience 
of many of the Lord's chosen ones is tried, 
through their great tribulation; which, I 
hope, in the Lord's due time, will be brought 
to a period. In the mean time, my soul re- 
joices in their faithfulness and stability ; and 
it is a matter of joy to me to perceive they 
are, in theijr trials, like unto mount Zion, which 
cannot be moved. 

O ! what cause have we to praise and mag- 
nify the Lord, who, through his eternal power, 
bath brought such wonderful things to pass 5 
which we have been eye witnesses of ! there- 
fore let us declare them freely to the sons of 
mes, that thereby we may shew forth the 



LETTERS. W 

praise of the God of our salvation, who is 
making up his jewels in this his day : yea, the 
fan is in his hand ; and He will, without 
doubt, thoroughly purge bis floor ; — the chaff, 
that will He consume, and the wheat shall be 
gathered into his garner ; and we, together 
with the rest of his reapers, whom He hath 
sent forth, shall see the travail of our souls, 
and be perfectly satisfied in the will and work 
of the Most High ; who is Lord of Lords, and 
King of Kings, God over all, blessed forever- 
more ! 

Friends were glad to perceive the continu- 
ance of thy determination about thy coming 
over; and I hope will be more glad when 
they see thee. It is likely the number of 
Friends here, may be less than thou mayest 
expect ; nevertheless I hope there will be re- 
freshment to be found for thee when thou 
comest, in some who long to see the time of 
thy coming ; yet I think it will not be good 
coming till the ice be more dissolved ; which 
I hope will be shortly, if this thaw continues. 
It was refreshment to me to hear of thy refresh- 
ment with the dear brethren whom thou met 
accidentally at the Meeting thou wrote of ; 
and it was glad tidings to me, to hear of the 



SO LETTERS. 

effectual door opened in the places where thou 
hast been ; which I know was also matter of 
refreshment to thy soul. 

Things here with us are pretty well and 
still at present, as in reference to the Truth ; 
and our little small meetings continue pretty 
peaceable for the most part ; and the good- 
ness and loving-kindness of the Most High is 
very large unto us ; for which we have cause 
to praise the Name of the Lord, so long as we 
have a being. 

Remember my dear love to thy wife, and to 
our dear and faithful friends in and about 
Colchester and elsewhere. The dear love of 
my dear wife, though thou art outwardly un- 
known to her, is to thee; and so is the love of 
our dear sister Gertrie and her husband. This 
is the substance of what I think at present to 
communicate to thee, hoping to see thee here 
shortly, if the Lord permit. Farewell. 

Thy dear brother in that which many waters 
cannot quench, 

WILLIAM CATON. 



LETTERS. 21 

Extracts from a Letter fiom William Caton 
to Stephen Crisp. 

Amsterdam, the 1st of 5th Mo. 1664. 

« S. C. And my dear Brother. 

"In the bowels of endeared love, do I dearly 
salute thee and thy fellow prisoners; as also 
the rest of Friends, of whose faith and pati- 
ence, fidelity and constancy, health and wel- 
fare in the Lord, I am right glad to hear ; the 
more at this day, because Satan, in and with 
his instruments, is exceeding busy to move 
the righteous from their stability? and to be- 
tray the simple from their simplicity, and to 
terrify the upright in heart with his raging 
cruelty. But of a truth the Lord is good to 
Israel, and rich in mercy unto all his chosen." 

" Thy large and acceptable letter, dear 
Stephen, I have finally received, after much 
expectation ; but am now well satisfied with 
the reason thou hast given, wherefore it came 
no sooner., I perceive Friends' exercise 
there, through the severity of the unreason- 
able and ungodly, is not yet at an end. Well, if 
it yet be longer perpetuated for the further 
purifying and trying of the Lord's chosen, I 



22 LETTERS. 

Lope it will tend to the glory of God, and to 
the furthering of their salvation." 

" Thy letter came so well furnished with 
remarkable passages, I thought it therefore 
expedient to translate the substance thereof; 
accordingly I did, with passages out of the 
other letters, to the end that Friends in other 
parts might understand the same so much bet- 
ter, as now I know they will ; it being commu- 
nicated to them in their own language." 

<; I was glad to hear that you had now and 
then some liberty, notwithstanding the Mayor's 
severity." 

" This day there hath been a man at our 
house, who is one of the brethren in Hungary, 
of whom I suppose thou hast heard, who hath 
escaped with his lite, and is freed out of those 
parts ; who gives a very sad relation of the de- 
plorable state of that country, and the parts 
where the wars are. The greatest part of 
the brethren are ruined, several of them kill- 
ed, others taken and carrried away captives by 
the Tartarians, with their wives and little 
ones. It seems the Tartarians, who assist the 
Turks, that broke in upon them in that part 



LETTERS. 23 

of the country, were exceeding barbarous, yea> 
"worse than the Turks themselves ; and there, 
fore was the misery which came upon the 
country, and the inhabitants thereof, the 
greater. As for the Turks, they seem to pre- 
vail much, and to have brought the Christians' 
army (so called) into great straits already ; and 
as to outward appearance are like to overcome 
much of that dark country, where the Emperor 
hath kept his seat; so that it is thought that 
both lie and his nobles will be forced to flee, 
as well as the poor and ignoble. The sense of 
the Turks thus prevailing, brings dread and 
fear upon many, who know not a refuge in the 
Lord ; but as to us who have felt and known 
the arm of the Almighty, we can acquiesce 
and rest satisfied in the will of our God, in 
whose hand we are. And as to us, who are 
given up to suffer according to the will of God, 
it is little whether we suffer by the Turks or 
the Tartar Christians, that are in the Turkish 
nature, by whom we sutler daily; but blessed 
be the Lord, in that He doth not forsake us, 
nor leave us comfortless in our suffering ; and 
therefore is it so much the more easy to us." 



The following Extracts from a Letter ■written by Robert 
Barrow, may serve to show the place which Stephen 
Crisp held in the estimation of tiis Society, in his declining- 
years. It was addressed to him and George Whitehead. 

King's Well, near Aberdeen, \5th o/Utli Mo. 1691. 

" My dear Brethren, being formerly, in my 
travels and proceedings upon Truth's con- 
cerns, used to write to dear G. F. who hath 
finished his day in peace and heavenly re- 
nown : and believing that the same God of end- 
less mercy hath made you rich partakers of 
the same universal grace, that he had, with an 
universal eve over all the Church ;" "so this 
is to let you know that. I have been throughout 
the most part of this nation, to visit Friends 
and Meetings tisercin ; and, blessed be the 
Lord ! I find things generally well, in unity 
and good order, which makes Friends travail 
both easy and comfortable. And about Aber- 
deen and somewhat Northward of it, there is 
a fine openness, many of late convinced, and 
hopeful to continue. And though I am but a 
weak instrument, and have no fellow traveller, 
nor outward companions, yet, blessed be the 
Lord ! I have had a very comfortable journey; 
and though it is the winter season, that I have 
sometimes travelled before day, and after, yet 
the Lord hath given me health in ail weather." 

" So, my dear Friends, let your prayers be 
to God for me, lhati may abide in God's fear, 
and stand in his counsel." 



THE LIFE 

OF 

STEPHEN CRISP, 

^ITI^e AN ACCOUNT OP HIS CoNVINCEMENT, TRAVELS, LA- 
BOURS, and Sufferings, in and for the Truth. 

Written by Himself. 



O ! all ye saints, and all ye inhabitants of 
the earth, let the name of Jehovah be famous 
among you, for there is no God like unto 
Him; and let his mercies and judgments be 
remembered and recorded from generation 
to generation: for infinite is his goodness; 
and his loving kindness unspeakable. And 
although no man can fully recount his loving- 
kindness to him reached out, yet let all men 
testify of his goodness, and declare of his 
mercies, by which He is engaging the sons of 
men to Himself, and winning and gathering 
again the scattered to the true rest. And there- 
fore well said David, " I will remember the 
years of the right hand of the Most High; I 
will remember the works of the Lord : surely 
I will remember his wonders of old. I will 



26 THE LIFE OF 

meditate of all thy works, I will talk of thy 
doings." Psalm lxxvii. 10-12. And who 
can feel his goodness, and partake of his love, 
but it will constrain a testimony to Him? 
And in the sweet remembrance of his manifold, 
innumerable mercies, I am even overcome. 
For my whole life hath been as a continued 
series of mercy and goodness ; and, all my 
days, hath He been my Upholder: when I 
knew Him not, He was nigh unto me; yea, 
when I rebelled against Him, He ceased not 
to be gracious ; His covenant stood with his 
seed Christ : and for His sake He spared me. 
His long-suffering and patience was extended 
towards me ; else I had been cut off in the 
days of my gainsaying. But O ! well may I 
say, He is a God gracious and merciful, long- 
suffering and patient, full of compassion. O ! 
let this his Name be proclaimed to the ends of 
the earth; and let the ears of the heathen be 
opened to hear the sound of his praise. 

And surely the Lord hath had an eye of 
tender compassion upon me, from the day 
that he formed me, and hath appointed me to 
his praise, and to witness forth his goodness ; 
for so soon as I can remember, and so soon as 
I was capable of understanding, he made me 
to understand that which consented not to 



STEPHEN CRISP. 27 

any evil, but stood in my soul as a witness 
against all evil; and manifested that I should 
not lye, nor steal, nor be stubborn, nor be 
disobedient, but should behave myself in 
meekness and quietness ; and set truth before 
me, as that which was better than falsehood ; 
and this same witness, even in the days of my 
childhood, ministered peace and boldness unto 
me, when I hearkened to the counsel of it; 
but there was a contrary nature and seed in 
me, that was of this world, and not of God; 
which inclined unto evil, and unto the way 
and manner ol this evil world, as most of all 
suiting the carnal mind; and an eye began to 
open in me that saw what was acceptable 
•with man, rather than what was well pleasing 
to God. 

And that eye being daily ministered unto by 
the various objects and examples of vanity, a 
delight sprung up in that which was evil; and 
my senses became exercised with vanity, by 
which the pure seed became oppressed and 
grieved from day to day, and began to cry 
out against me ; and condemnation began to 
be stirred up in me ; and fear entered, where 
before no fear was, and (he pure innocency 
■was lost. And then, having at any time done 
c2 



28 



THE LIFE OF 



or spoken any evil, then the light, or pure 
principle in me, would manifest it to me, and 
shew me, that I ought not so to have done ; 
and I felt condemnation, which how to escape 
I knew not. But then the evil spirit that led 
to transgress, would always stand ready to 
help in this need; and sometimes stirred up 
the subtilty in me, to plead a reason for what 
I had done, or a provocation, or a good intent, 
or else to deny, or at least to mitigate the evil 
of my deed ; and so to stop the mouth of the 
witness of God, and to see if I could escape 
the condemnation of the witness of God, and 
procure my own peace. But alas ! this was 
a miserable help ; for the light would often 
shine through all this, and quell my reason- 
ings; and shew me, when I was but a child, 
that in the pure reason that is from God, there 
is no reason for any evil, let provocations, 
temptations, or examples be what they can. 
or will; and so was I often stripped from all 
my reasoning and coverings. 

And then I learned another way to get ease 
from the judgment, and that when I was very 
young, about seven or eight years old : I 
would use, when judgment overtook me for 
evil, to yield that it was so, and therefore 
thought I must do something to please Goa 



STEPHEN CRISP. 29 

again; and so, hereupon, I learned to pray, 
and to weep in secret, and to covenant with 
God for more watchfulness; and so then I 
thought, for a season, I was as one unburthened 
from my weight. Yet this best state was ac- 
companied with many doubtings and ques- 
tionings, whether my evils were blotted out, 
or not ; especially when I saw that I was again 
overtaken by the evil spirit, and led into evil 
thoughts, words, or actions; for the witness 
cried, even then, to have my whole mind given 
up to the Lord ; and that in thought, word, 
and deed, I should serve Him ; but I knew not 
that it was from God. Yet this I knew, that 
I wanted power to answer the requirings of 
that in me, which witnesseth against evil in 
me; and this I lamented day and night. 

And when I was about nine or ten years 
old, I sought the power of God with great 
diligence and earnestness, with strong cries 
and tears ; and if I had had the whole world 
I would have given it, to have kaown how to 
obtain power over my corruptions. And 
when I saw the carelessness of other children, 
and their profaneness, and that they did 
not, that I could discern, think of God, nor 
were in trouble^ though they were far more 
c3 



30 



THE LIFE OP 



■wicked than I, in their speech and actions; 
Ah Lord! thought I, what will become of 
these ? seeing so heavy a hand is upon me, I 
can find neither peace, nor assurance of thy 
love. 

Then the enemy would tempt me to rest, 
and be quiet, in that it was better with me 
than with others; and my reason wrought 
strongly to make up a peace to myself herein. 
But the pure witness followed me, and left rac 
not, but pursued me night and day, and broke 
my peace faster than I could make it up ; for 
my mind was in my own works, and I could 
see no further. I heard talk of a Christ 
and Saviour, but O ! thought I, that I knew 
Him. 

My ear was lent to the discourses and dispu- 
tations of the times, which were very many; 
and one while I let in one thing, and another 
while another. Sometimes I heard men dis- 
pute, That God sees no sin in his people ; then 
I said, Surely I am none of them ; for He 
marlceth all my transgressions. Otherwhile, 
men talked of an election and a reprobation 
of persons before time; and that I considered 
diligently, and thought, if that were so, and I 



STEPHEN CBI&P. SI 

could get so many signs and marks of an elect 
soul, as might bring me to quiet, then I would 
keep it; and not be so tossed as I had been. 

Then I grew a very diligent hearer and re- 
garder of the best ministers, as they were re- 
puted ; and went with as much diligence and 
cheerfulness to reading, and to hearing ser- 
mons, as other children went to their play and 
sportings. And when I heard any one treat upon 
that point of election, and how a man might 
know if lie were elect; and would lay down 
signs of a true believer, and signs of an elect 
soul, then I would try myself in their measure, 
and weigh myself in their balance, and so ga- 
ther up a little peace to myself, rinding such 
things in me as they spoke of for signs; as, a 
desire against sin, — a loathing myself for sin, 
— a love to them that were counted the best 
people, — a longing to be rid of sin, $c. But, 
alas! here was yet but the blind leading my 
poor blind soul. This was not the balance of 
the sanctuary; and when I had gotten a little 
peace and quietness, and thought to hold it, 
alas ! it would soon be shattered and broken ; 
and when God's pure witness arose in me, that 
I must be weighed in the true balance, O ! 
then I found I was much too light ; then an- 



32 THE LIFE OF 

guish would again kindle in me, and a cry 
was in me : O! whither shall J go ? and what 
shall I do ? that 1 might come to a settled state, 
before I go hence and be seen no more. 

In this woful condition, the thoughts of 
death would bring a dread over soul and 
body ; and trembling and horror were often 
upon me, fearing that I was set apart for a 
vessel of wrath for ever, and must bear the 
fiery indignation of God for ever. And oh! 
that word, for ever, would often be terrible to 
me, but how to prevent it I knew not ; for 
now I began to perceive my own insufficiency, 
and my want of God's power, and that it Mas 
not in my own power to keep myself out of 
sin, and that the wages of it was death ; so that 
I was in a great strait, sometimes thinking I 
had better give over seeking, and sometimes 
thinking, If I perish I had better perish seek- 
ing ; and here the good got the upper hand for 
a season, and I became a diligent seeker, and 
prayer, and mourner, and would often find 
out the most secret fields and unusual places, 
there to pour out my complaints to the Lord. 

When I was but about twelve years old, my 
general and constant cry was after the power 
by which I might overcome corruptions; and 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



55 



although I heard the teachers of those times 
daily saying, "None could live -without sin," 
and heard the doctrine of perfection holden as 
a dangerous error, }et that did not abate ray- 
cry : though indeed it did often -weaken my 
belief of obtaining; and so made my prayer 
almost faithless, and hence without success, 
But I knew that without the power of God I 
must perish, let them say what they could : 
and I could not reckon myself saved while I 
was captivated with the corrupt and rebellious 
nature, let them all say what they could ; for I 
remembered the words of Christ, He that com- 
mitteth sin, is the servant of sin; and that f 
knew was I, In this iron furnace I toiled 
and laboured, and none knew my sorrows and 
griefs, which at times were almost intolerable, 
that I wished I had never been born, or that 
my end might be like the beasts of the field ; 
for I counted them happy, since they had no 
such bitter combat here as I had, nor should 
endure that hereafter, which I feared I must 
endure after all : for I did see my misery, but 
I saw no way to escape. 

Then I thought I had best not keep my 
misery so close, but disclose it to some that, 
may be, might help me ; but well might I 
say, miserable comforters I found them all to 



34 



THE LIFE OF 



be; for then they would bid me apply the 
promises by faith, and suck comfort out of 
the Scriptures; and tell me of the apostle's 
state mentioned in the 1th of the Romans, 
and tell me it was so with him, and yet he 
was a servant of Jesus Christ ; and such like 
deceitful daubings as they had daubed them- 
selves with, in like manner dealt they with 
me; not considering that the apostle called 
that a wretched and an undelivered state, as I 
might well do mine. 

But all these ihings took but little place in 
me; my wound remained unhealed, and He 
that wounded me, and was able to have healed 
me, was nigh me, and I knew Him not; for I 
went groping in that dark and dismal night of 
darkness, seeking the living among the dead, 
as many more did ; but it was so dark, that 
we that did so, could not see one another. 
And as for the priests and professors of those 
times, the most of them would boast of expe- 
riences, and of the seal, and of assurances 
of the love of God, and what comfort they 
enjoyed by thinking or meditating on the 
suffering of Christ for their sins, &c. Alas! 
thought I, I could think of these things as 
well as you; but my wound still remains 
freshj and I see that I am as one of the cruci- 



STEPHEN CRISP. 35 

fiers, while I love sin, for which He died ; 
and my soul longed after some other kind of 
knowledge of Him, than that which was to be 
attained by reading; for I saw that the worst, 
as well as the best, could attain to that; and I 
durst not lean upon them so much as I had 
done. 

Then I began to be somewhat more loosened 
in my mind from the priests, (though I left 
them not wholly,) but now began to find out 
the meetings of those then called Separatists, 
and to hear their gifted men, so called, whose 
doctrine I took notice, savoured more of zeal 
and fervency, than most of the priests' did; 
neither did I see them so covetous to make a 
gain of preaching, not yet being come to see 
how they coveted greatness and applause of 
men; but I was often affected with their 
preachings, though still the former bond was 
upon me, and they jet strengthened it: to 
wit, that if I were not elected, I could not be 
saved ; and how I might know, no man could 
tell me to my satisfaction. So the fear of this 
would often dash my comfort; and then I 
began to take notice of the loose walking of 
such Separatists, yea, even of the teachers 
among them; that they were not yet redeemed 



26 THE LIFE OF 

from foolish jesting, from idle words, from 
anger and passion; but sometimes broke out 
brother against brother, and so ran out to 
parties, and to breaches and schisms, and 
rending their churches, which they often both 
built and pulled down ^ith their own hands. 
I also saw how inconstant they were, some- 
times letting in one doctrine, sometimes ano- 
ther, tossed with winds. But not a word could 
I hear how I might obtain power over sin. 
Over some sins and some lusts I had obtained 
it, but over all I had not ; and nothing else 
would satisfy me. 

Then I began, when I was about seventeen 
or eighteen yesrs of age, to seek yet further; 
and hearing of a people that held forth, The 
death of Christ for all men, I went to hear 
them; and after some time I came to see that 
there was more light, and clearer understand- 
ing the Scriptures among them, than among 
the former: so I began to be conversant with 
them, and frequent in their meetings, and 
came to be established in their belief: That 
there was a dear Son of hope, and may or 
means of salvation prepared for all people, 
and none positively, by any eternal decree, ex- 
cluded, as by name or person, but as unbeliev- 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



37 



crs and disobedient. This ministered comfort 
awhile; and I set myself to believe, and to 
get faith in Christ, and to reckon myself a 
believer ; and found it a hard word, even too 
hard for me, though I cried aloud many times 
to have my unbelief helped; yet when I saw- 
sin prevail over me, Alas! said I, where is 
that faith that purifieth the heart, and giveth. 
victory ? mine is not such. 

Then would the pure witness of God, arise 
and testify against me for my sin; and the 
more my understanding was enlarged, the 
sharper was my judgment; and now it grew 
so sharp, that I knew not how to endure it so 
well as I had done in my childhood; but the 
rou^h and rebellious nature being now ^rown 
strong, and I in the prime and strength of my 
youth, and seeing how others spent their time 
in pleasures and vanity, a secret lust and 
desire kindled in me to partake of their cup; 
yet for a time I was kept in, as with a bit; 
and rather took delight to take notice of the 
varieties of wits and inventions, that had been 
in foretime, which I found by books, being 
much given to reading ; and so I gathered many 
sayings and sentences of wise philosophers 

D 



38 THE LIFE OF 

and sages, and in part obtained the knowledge 
of many ages gone before me. 

These things I thought were as an ornament, 
lifting me for discourse, and for the company 
of wise men. And, alas ! all this while self 
stood uncrucified, and all that was gotten was 
but sacrificed and offered up for the obtain- 
ing a reputation to self, which should have 
been kept in the cross; yet this served me 
awhile to feed that unwearied, searching, 
seeking soul of mine withal ; and many things 
that I met with became as a life unto it for a 
season; and I began to bless myself, that my 
time was no worse spent. And, in this time 
I found two drawings, one strong drawing 
and inducement was into the world, wholly 
to give myself up to the pleasures, delights, 
and vanities of it; and another drawing was 
unto godliness, watchfulness, seriousness, &c. 
And I, poor man, knew not what to do, as to 
religion. 

I felt a religious inclination in me, as I had 
done from a child ; and could have been well 
content to have taken up some form of reli- 
gion, but was sore discouraged, because I 
could see none of them hold forth that which 



STEPHEN CRISP. 39 

I wanted, either in their life or doctrine, to 
wit, power over corruptions; without which 
I knew religion would be in vain, and not 
answer the end for which I should take it up. 
So I desisted from taking up any form, and kept 
in the wild field of this world, and wandered 
up and down, sometimes to one sort of people, 
sometimes to another; taking a sharp inspec- 
tion into their lives and doctrines, though I 
confess I left my own garden undressed, until 
many noisome weeds overgrew it. Thus I 
began to lose my tenderness of conscience 
which I had had, and began to take pleasure 
in the company of the wicked; and in many 
things to become like them, and came to be 
captivated more than ever, with mirth and 
jollity, and oft would sing when I had cause 
to howl and mourn. I also fell to gaming and 
pastime, and presumed upon the mercy of 
God, and had a secret belief, That God would 
one day manifest his power, and bring me out 
of this slate: therefore I had often a dread upon 
me, of running so far into wickedness, as some 
others did ; and was kept from many gross 
evils that my companions ran into: and herein 
was the infinite goodness of the Lord manifest, 
which, when I came to see it with a true eye, 
broke my heart; yea, my heart and soul 
j)2 



40 



THE LIFE <XF 



praiselh the Lord for his mercy, who kept 
me when I knew Him riot. 

Though the provocations and temptations 
were many, that did attend me ; yet out of 
divers abominations was I preserved: and I 
must say and acknowledge, as the Lord said 
to Abimelech, it was the Lord who preserved 
or kept me. So this course of life went on 
for a season, about two or three years, until a 
weariness came npon me thereby; for many 
times, in the very midst of all my mirth, the 
hand of the Lord would be heavy upon me, 
and his righteous judgment would kindle itt 
me, and put a stop to my course; and then 
would I lament me in secret, and sometimes 
complain to others of my sore captivity and 
slavery to sin ; and often would I be arguing 
and conferring with them that were counted 
experienced Christians, how peace and assu- 
rance might be attained. Some would say, 
by reading and applying promises; but that 
way I had tried so often, and so long, that it 
took now but little with me : for I saw I was 
in another state than that unto which the pro- 
mises were made. Others said, the only way 
was to be obedient to the commands and ordi- 
nances of Jesus Christ, and to be conformable 



STEPHEN CRISP. 41 

to the primitive saints, in walking in church 
order and communion, where every one had 
the strength of many, and all the church were 
bound to watch over every member. 

To these counsellors I hearkened, and was 
willing to do any thing, to find the power, con- 
cluding that reproach should not keep me back. 
So I took up that ordinance, as they called it, 
of water baptism, expecting then to have found 
power more than before. And my will wrought 
strongly to bridle and keep down that airy 
part and sinful nature, and for a season I strove 
to uphold and maintain myself to be in a bet- 
ter state than before, though the virtue thai 
should sanctify and wash me I did not feel, 
my mind being abroad; and the reasons that 
kept me were not the operation of the pure 
love of God in my heart, and his grace pre- 
vailing in me, to teach me, but rather an eye 
to the reputation of my religion, and that I 
might not seem to have run and acted all in 
vain. 

These reasons held me but for a season, before 
the temptation grew too strong for my will; 
and the devil entered his own ground, and 
prevailed upon me, and led me captive into 

a3 



42 THE LIFE OF 

sin and evil, and drew me into vain company, 
and vain sports, and delights, and pastimes 
again, as before. So I sufficiently saw that I 
wanted what I had wanted before; that I had 
grasped at a shadow, and catched nothing but 
wind; and that my baptism was short of 
John's, who did indeed baptize with a baptism 
of repentance, and prepared the way of the 
Lord, and made his path straight. But mine 
did not so much ; and therefore was still 
more short of the baptism of Christ, in which 
the fire was to be found, that should burn up 
what was offensive to God, and grieved his 
Holy Spirit, and that should then fill me with 
his Spirit, which takes delight in nothing that 
is corrupt. This baptism I saw was wanting, 
and therefore a dissatisfaction began to grow 
up in me, both of myself, and of my way ; and 
I testified unto the elders, so called, of the 
church, that God would shortly overturn all 
our worships and religions, which stood in 
outward and carnal things, and would make 
known some way higher than them all, that 
should stand for ever. 

When they enquired what that way should 
be, I confessed I knew not, but waited to see 
what it might be. And about those days 



STEPHEN CRISP. 43 

many exercised themselves in talking and 
discoursing of a people called Quakers, after 
whom I listened; but though I hearkened 
•with great diligence, I could hear no good 
report of them, but much harm; and many 
false and wicked lies were cast upon them : 
only this I. took notice of, that they suffered . 
cruel mockings, and grievous sufferings pa- 
tiently. Now I did expect, that when the 
way of God was made manifest, it would be 
hated and persecuted ; yet I thought that that 
should not at all deter or affright me from 
owning it, and walking in it, if once I knew 
it. But forasmuch as I heard they held per- 
fection in this life, that was a thing the old 
wisdom of the serpent could not reach nor 
join with, but I reasoned against it strongly, 
in that dark, fallen wisdom, in which many 
are still fighting against the Lamb and his 
innocent life, saying in their hearts: Rule 
Thou in heaven if Thou will, for on earth 
Thou shalt have no place, no not one soul to 
bear rule and sovereignty over. And I can 
but pity thousands who are fighting Satan's 
quarrels in this matter; but having faithfully 
laboured with them in my generation, 1 leave 
them that are wilful and stubborn opposers, 
who will in no wise receive that which is 



44: THE LIFE OP 

perfect in this life, to receive the wages of 
imperfection in the life to come. But I say, 
in this same fallen wisdom did I reason divers 
waj'S, too many now to name, against the 
truth, the fame whereof I had heard, as the 
Scriptures speak, While I zoas in death and in 
the way of destruction. 

A messenger of this truth I had not seen ; 
hut longed much to see one, wishing night and 
day, that our parts might be visited by them, 
as I had heard others were; and, at length, 
the Lord sent his faithful servant and messen- 
ger of his everlasting Gospel, James Parnel, 
to our town of Colchester, about the fourth 
month, 1655, and in the 27th year of my age, 
who came in the name and power of the Most 
High God; in which he turned many to 
righteousness there, as he had in other coun- 
tries before; of whom some remain, and many 
are fallen asleep. 

When I saw this man, who was but a youth, 
I, knowing not the power nor spirit that 
was in him, thought to withstand him, and 
began to query and seek discourse with him ; 
but I quickly came to feel that the spirit of 
sound judgment was in him; and the witness 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



45 



of God arose in me, and testified to bis judg- 
ment, and signified I must own it, as being just 
and true ; and I the same day and hour testi- 
fied, that all our rods of profession would be 
lost or devoured by his rod ; alluding to that 
of Moses, and the magicians of Egypt; which 
is and certainly shall come to pass. 

So that day I went to a Meeting, and heard 
him declare the everlasting Gospel, in the 
name and authority of the Lord, which I could 
not, with all my wisdom and knowledge, with- 
stand; but was constrained to own and con- 
fess unto the Truth. And here, at the very 
first of my convincement, did the enemy of 
my soul make trial to slay me, and that after 
this manner: seeing my wisdom and reason 
were overcome by the truth, I could not there- 
with withstand it ; therefore I received the 
truth, but held it in the same part with which 
I had withstood it, and defended it with the 
same wisdom by which I had resisted it, and 
so was yet a stranger to the cross that was to 
crucify me. And I was at liberty in the dis- 
coursative spirit, to lay out my wits and parts 
for the truth ; but I soon felt my sacrifice 
(though I offered the best my earth would 
afford) was not accepted, but something els© 



46 THE LIFE OF 

was still called for; and a cry was in me 
which called to judgment; and the earth that 
bad long covered her slain, began to be 
moved, but not jet removed out of its place. 
Great were the strugglings of my thoughts, and 
a great desire was kindled in me how I might 
comprehend the truth in my understanding, 
as I had done the doctrines and principles of 
other religions ; but all my labour therein was 
to no purpose, for a death was determined 
upon that wisdom from the Lord; sol saw 
my labour in vain, my fishing could catch 
nothing, all that night, while I wrought in the 
dark, and had not the guidance of the Light. 

So, in this state, I continued a month or two; 
but then a swift sword uas drawn against 
that wisdom and comprehending mind, and a 
strong hand gave the stroke; and I was hewn 
down like a tall cedar, that at once comes 
down to the ground. 

But then, O the woe, misery, and calamity 
that opened upon me! Yea, even the gates of 
hell and destruction stood open, and I saw 
myself nigh falling thereinto ; my hope, and 
faith, and all fled before me, I had no prop 
left roe to rest upon. The tongue that had 



STEPHEN CRISP. 47 

been as a river, was now like a dry desert; 
the eye that would, or at least desired to see 
every thing, was now so blind, that I could 
see nothing certainly, but my present undone 
and miserable state. Oh! then I cried out in 
the bitterness of my soul, what hath all my 
profession profited me ? I am poor and 
blind and naked, who thought I had been 
rich and well adorned. Then saw I the well 
favoured harlot btript, and brought into re- 
membrance before God; and her judgment 
was come, and how to escape the fire of the 
vengeance which broke forth, I knew not. 
Oh! how doleful were my nights, and sorrow- 
ful were my days ! my delights withered even 
in wife and children, and in all things, and 
the glory of the whole world passed away 
like a scroll that is burnt with fire; and I 
saw nothing left in the whole world to give 
me any comfort : my sun lost his light, and 
my moon was darkened, and the stars of my 
course were fallen ; that I knew no more how 
to direct my way, but was as one forsaken in a 
howling desert, in the darkest night ; and when 
I saw what God had done, (for I believed it was 
His doing,) I was ready to cry : I am forsaken 
for tvcr, and ?iczer was sorrow like nJue ; 



48 THE LIFE OF 

my wound is incurable, and my sickness none 
can heal. 



Alas! neither my tongue nor pen can ex- 
press the sorrows of those days, in which I 
sat me down in silence, fear, and astonishment, 
and was encompassed with sorrow and dark- 
ness; and I knew none to make my moan 
unto. I heard of joy and salvation, but could 
scarcely think that ever I should be a partaker 
of it. I still wanted that living faith, which 
the apostle said, was of the operation of God, 
who raised up Jesus, the true seed ; which 
seed I still felt groaning in me to be delivered 
from the burden of sin, and from the oppres- 
sion of the carnal mind. After long travail, 
strong cries, and many bitter tears and groans, 
I found a little hope springing in me, that the 
Lord, in his own time, would bring forth his 
seed, even his elect seed, the seed of his cove- 
nant, to rule in me; and this was given me, 
at a time when a sense of my own unworthi- 
ness had so overwhelmed me in sorrow and 
anguish, that I thought myself unworthy of 
any of the creatures, forasmuch as I was out 
of the covenant of God ; and hereupon was 
tempted to deny myself of them. 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



49 



Then did the hope of the resurrection of 
the just spring in me; and I was taught to 
wait on God, and to eat and drink in fear 
and watchfulness, shewing forth the Lord's 
death till He should come to be raised to live 
and reign in me ; so then I waited as one who 
had hope that God would be gracious to me ; 
yet something in me would fain have known 
the time how long it should be : but a faithful 
cry was in me, which called that to death ; 
and, upon a time, being weary of my own 
thoughts in the Meeting of God's people, I 
thought none was like me, and that it was but 
in vain to sit there with such a wandering 
mind as mine was, while, though I laboured to 
stay it, I yet could not as I would. At length, 
I thought to go forth ; and as I was going, 
the Lord thundered through me, saying: That 
which is xveary must die: so I turned to my 
seat, and waited in the belief of God, for the 
death of that part which was weary of the 
work of God ; and grew more diligent in seek- 
ing death, that I might be baptized for the 
dead; and that I might know how to put off 
the old man, with his deeds and words, and 
imaginations, his fashions and customs, his 
friendship and wisdom, and all that apper- 
tained to him. And the cross of Christ was 



50 THE LIFE OF 

laid upon me, and I bore it : and as I became 
willing to take it up, I found it to be to me, 
that thing which I had sought from my child- 
hood, even the power of God ; for by it, I was 
crucified to the world, and the world to me, 
which nothing else could ever effect. 

But O ! how glad was my soul, when I had 
found the way to slay my soul's enemies i O ! 
the secret joy that was in me in the midst of 
all my conflicts and combats : I had this con- 
fidence : if I but take up the cross, I shall 
obtain victory; for that is the power of God, 
through faith, to salvation; and as I have 
found it so in some things, so I shall do in all, 
in due time. 

Then the reproach of the Gospel became 
joyous to me; though, in those days, it was 
very cruel to flesh and blood, yet I despised 
it, and that for the joy that was now set before 
me ; of which I had some hope I should, in 
time, be made a partaker, if I abode faithfuL 
And that was my great care night and day, to 
keep so low and out of the workings of my 
own will, that I might discern the mind of 
God, and do it, though in never so great a 
cross to my own. Yet the enemy of my soul 



STEPHEN CRISP. 51 

followed me close and very secretly ; and, 
taking notice how willing I was to obey tbe 
Lord, he strove to get up into the seat of God, 
and to move as an angel of light, to betray 
me, and to lead me into something that was 
like the service of God ; and many sore con- 
flicts did I meet withal, before I was able in 
all things to distinguish between the workings 
of the true Spirit and power, from that which 
was but transformed; but, forasmuch as I had 
now surely tasted of the love and goodness of 
Ood, I trusted in Him, and committed the 
keeping of my soul unto Him in singleness of 
heart; and manifold and daily were his deli- 
verances made known to me, beyond all re- 
count or remembrance of man ; for which, O 
my soul! praise thou the Lord for ever, who 
cared for thee in thy infancy, and kept thee 
in the days of thy distress. 

So the more I came to feel and perceive the 
love of God, and his goodness to flow forth 
upon me, the more was I humbled and bowed 
in my mind to serve Him, and to serve the 
least of his people among whom I walked. 
And as the word of wisdom began to spring 
in me, and the knowledge of God grew, so 
I became as a counsellor of them that were 
e2 



52 TNE LIFE OF 

tempted in like manner as I had been ; yet 
was kept so low that I waited to receive 
counsel daily from God, and from those that 
were over me in the Lord, and were in Christ 
before me, against whom I never rebelled, nor 
was stubborn ; but the more I was kept in 
subjection myself, the more subject were evil 
spirits made to me, and the more I was ena- 
bled to help the weak and feeble ones. So 
the eyes of many came to be upon me, as one 
w itli whom counsel and understanding in some 
measure was. 

And the church of God in those days in- 
creased, and my care daily increased, and 
the weight of things relating both to the out- 
ward and inward condition of poor Friends 
came upon me; and being called of God and 
his people to take the care of the poor, and to 
relieve their necessities as I did see occasion, I 
did it faithfully for divers years, with diligence 
and much tenderness; exhorting and reprov- 
ing any that were slothful, and encouraging 
them that were diligent, putting a difference 
according to the wisdom given me of God, 
and still minding my own state and condition, 
and seeking the honour that comes of God 
only. And a cry was in me to keep on my 



STEPHEN CRISP. Od 

spiritual armour; for all enemies were not yet 
put under my feet. 

So I kept my watch, not knowing well 
where the enemy might appear ; but after a 
while I found his appearance once more to 
be very sharp, and that upon this occasion. 
About the year 1659, 1 often felt the abound- 
ings of the love of God in my heart; and a 
cry to stand given up to his will, which I 
thought I was, not knowing or foreseeing 
what the Lord was intending to do with me, 
but his eye saw farther than mine ; this love 
and tenderness, and bowels of compassion, 
wrought so in me, that it extended even to all 
men on the whole face of the earth, so that I 
cried in spirit, O ! that all men knew Thee and 
thy goodness! And upon a time, as I was 
waiting upon the Lord, his word arose in me, 
and commanded me to forsake and part with 
my dear wife and children, father and mother,, 
and to go and bear witness to his name in 
Scotland, to that high professing nation. Bat 
when that came to pass, I found all enemies 
were not slain indeed ; for the strivings, smug- 
glings, reasonings, and disputings against the 
command of God, that I then met withal, 
cannot be told @r numbered. 
e 3 



54 THE LIFE OP '- 

O! bow I would have pleaded my own 
inability, the care of my family, my service 
in that particular meeting, and many more 
things; and all that I might have been ex- 
cused from this one thing which was come 
upon me, that I thought not of, or looked not 
for. But after many reasonings, days and 
weeks by myself, I thought it best to speak of 
it to some of the faithful elders and ministers 
of this everlasting Gospel; not knowing but 
they might discourage me, and something 
there was that hoped it ; but contrarily, they 
encouraged me, and laid it upon me to be 
faithful. So then I gave up, and acquainted 
my dear wife therewith, which began me a 
new exercise, the enemy working in her 
strongly to stop me. But in much patience 
was I kept, and in quietness ; and went and 
visited friends' meetings about Essex, and 
part of Suffolk, chiefly to see them, and to 
take my leave of them ; and in some meetings 
the Lord would open my mouth in a few 
words to the refreshing of friends ; but I 
rather chose silence, when I might so. The 
winter drew nigh, and something would have 
deferred it till next summer ; but the Lord 
shewed me it must not be my time, but his 
time. Then I would have gone by sea, but 



STEPHEN CRISP. 55 

the Lord withstood me, and shewed me, it 
must not be my way, but his way ; and if I 
would be obedient He would be with ine, and 
prosper my journey, otherwise his hand would 
strike me. So I gave up all • and pretty 
much with cheerfulness, at last, I obeyed; and 
about the end of the seventh month I went 
forth, and visited the Churches of Christ. 

As I went along in Lincolnshire and York- 
shire, I quickly perceived that the Lord was 
with me more than at other times ; and my 
journey became joyful, and the more so, in 
that though I were but weak, poor, and low, yet 
God gave me acceptance among the elders of 
his people ; and, in every place, my testimony 
was owned, and divers were convinced of the 
everlasting truth : then I marvelled, and said : 
Lord, the glory alone belongs to Thee, for 
Thou hast wrought wonders for thy Name's 
sake, and for thy Holy Seed's sake. I got 
into Scotland in the ninth month, that year, 
and travelled to and fro that winter on foot 
with cheerfulness. Many straits and difficul- 
ties attended me, which I forbear to mention, 
it being the time of the motion of the English 
and Scottish armies, upon which succeeded 
the revolution of government, and the bringing 



56 THE LIFE OF 

back of King Charles the Second into Eng- 
land. Well, about the 11th or 12th Month, 
I returned and travelled into the West, to 
Westmorland, part of Lancashire, and so up 
to the southward ; and in about five or six 
Months 7 time, was, by the good hand of God, 
brought home to my wife and children, and 
relations; in all my journey having been 
sweetly accompanied with the presence of the 
Lord ; and his power often filled my earthen 
vessel, and made my cup to overflow : Praises 
for »ver be to his Name^ saith my soul. 

In all my journey I lacked not any thing 
that was good for me ; but as it was my care, 
in singleness, to serve the Lord, so was the 
tender care of the Lord over me ; and He sup- 
plied me with whatever was needful in my 
journey ; yet, all along, a secret hope did live 
in me, that when the present journey should 
be accomplished, I should be freed from this 
service, and have liberty to return to ray call- 
ing and family ; but contrarily it proved, for 
when I had been at home a few days, it lay 
upon me to go up to London, to visit the bre- 
thren and Church of God there. So I went? 
in great fear and dread of God, to that city ; 
and having continued there a few days, de- 



STEPHEN CRISP. 57 

parted northward again, at the commandment 
of the Lord, and found my ways prosperous 
wherever I went ; and great encouragement 
did I daily receive from the Lord, who blessed 
my labour of love; that, besides the peace and 
joy I felt in myself, I saw the effect of my la- 
bour, and the travail of my soul in divers 
places made manifest, by divers being turn- 
ed from darkness to light, and from serv- 
ing the evil power unto the power of God. — 
But still trials attended me ; and a prison be- 
came my portion, nigh two hundred miles 
from home, and great and grievous threaten- 
ings were breathed out against me ; and the 
same spirit which wrought in the persecutors, 
both in their cruelty and subtilty, strove to 
work in me also. 

But I cried to the Lord, and He helped me, 
and my faith failed me not, but I fulfilled my 
service and testimony ; and at length was deli- 
vered, and several thousands more, by a public 
proclamation from the King ; and I then re- 
turned to my house, after about eight months 
absence; and my heart was set to serve the 
Lord, who had been good unto me : yet the 
hope of being freed from this kind of service, 
lived long in me, for I found the work every 



58 THE LIFE OP 

day more weighty than another, many false 
spirits rising up, and transforming themselves 
into the likeness of Truthj who were enemies 
to the life of Truth, who were the worst ene* 
mies of all. And I saw that Zion's enemy, 
who could no other way prevail, was now try- 
ing, if by a false pretence of holiness and obe- 
dience, he could deceive and beguile the sim- 
ple : but I cried to God, to give me a discern- 
ing heart, and an understanding to compre- 
hend the snare of the enemy, and that I might 
be a help to the weak ; and He did so: and 1 
saw the foundation struck at by the enemy, 
and 1 grew zealous for the Lord and his house, 
and testified freely against the secret deceits 
of the enemy ; but this occasioned me yet 
more exercise and sorrow too ; divers who 
saw not the depths of the workings of Satan, 
judging my zeal and fervency against that 
contradictious spirit to be needless. 

But in meekness and patience, the Lord 
kept me out of the warring and striving mind ; 
for I dared not strike them whom I knew to be 
my fellow servants, but them that pretended to 
be so, and yet served and promoted another 
interest. Them I often wounded with the 
weapon God had given : and they that came 



STEPHEN CRISP. Dif 

to love the judgment, were sealed, but many 
perished in their rebellion and stubborness. — 
And the Lord arose and blasted the work of 
the enemy, and opened the eyes of many that 
were darkened ; and they came to see the end 
of that which had been the troubler of Israel ; 
and peace, unity, and true love were restored in 
all our borders. Then was my joy full, and 
my cup did overflow with praises and thank- 
fulness to God, who had had regard to his 
heritage and people, and had delivered them 
from the devices of the wicked one. For my 
soul grew daily in love with Zion, and there was 
nothing in all the world so desirable to me, as the 
prosperity of the Gospel, and the spreading and 
publishing of His Name and Truth through the 
earth ; and so this love constrained me to tra- 
vel with great diligence from country to coun- 
try, to make known what God had done for 
my soul, and to publish the day of the Lord, 
yea the day of redemption, in which the cap- 
tivity of the spiritual Israel should be brought 
back ; which did prove glad tidings unto 
many, who received the report and believed 
it. They came to behold the revelation of the 
holy, powerful arm of God, to their soul's sa- 
tisfaction ; and, in most parts of England where 
I travelled, I found a daily adding to the 



60 THE LIFE OF 

Church, such as were like to be saved ; and 
hereupon my joy increased, and I began to be 
more freely given up to the work and service 
of God, and to the ministry of the Gospel. 

And about the year 1663, I was moved to 
cross the seas, and to visit the seed of God in the 
Low countries, which I did with cheerfulness ; 
and though in an unknown land, and with an 
unknown speech, yet, by an Interpreter some- 
times, and sometimes in my own tongue, I 
declared the truth to the refreshing of many, 
and to the bringing back of some from error; 
and having accomplished that visit, I returned 
in peace to England. 

And after a while, being required of God, 
I again went down into the north conntry, la- 
bouring in the word and doctrine with great 
diligence and fervency, along, or near unto 
the sea coast, and so down to Newcastle, and 
something beyond ; and being led by the 
Spirit, I came back another way, more east- 
ward through the land ; and found, all the way, 
the plant of God's renown flourishing and 
growing, Meetings enlarged, and the hearts of 
Friends enlarged in love to me, and mine to 
them. Then being returned,^ great weight 



STEPHEN CRISP. 61 

came upon me, concerning the great city of 
London, greater than ever before ; and I went 
up full of might and power, and did daily (as 
the Lord opened my mouth, and ordered me) 
warn them of the abominations and wicked- 
ness that ran down among them like a stream, 
and declared the judgments of God at hand 
upon them, for their great wickedness ; which 
followed speedily, both by war and fire, and 
many more calamities. 

After this, about 1667, it was required of me 
again to go into Holland, and my dear com- 
panion, Josiah Cole, went with me ; and we 
travelled to and fro, and visited the Churches 
about three months, and returned. Then went 
I again down into the north of England, my 
heart being abundantly drawn out towards 
the noble seed of God in those parts ; and my 
love and tenderness of heart towards them, 
made all travel, and labour, and perils easy ; 
because I still saw the tender plants of my 
Heavenly Father, in a thriving and growing 
way or condition ; and I felt the virtue of life 
daily springing in me, -which was given me to 
water the heritage and garden of God. And 
so soon as I was clear, I returned, having, 
still more and more, the care of the Church of 

F 



02 THE LIFE OF 

God coming upon me, which constrained me 
to diligence, and to be as swift as I might be ; 
that £0 I might be as serviceable as possible in 
my generation, and might keep myself clear 
of the blood of all men, which I found to be 
no easy or slight work. 

Being safely returned, and finding the pre- 
sence and power of the Lord yet leading me 
to and fro from country to country, I was obe- 
dient thereunto, not of constraint now, but of 
a willing mind ; counting his service a free- 
dom, feeling myself freed from the cares of 
this life, having now learned to cast all my 
care upon Him. After one or two years tra- 
vel thus in England, the Lord laid yet more 
of the weight and care of the affairs of his 
people in the Low Countries upon me, and I 
found drawing towards them ; and in the year 
1669, 1 went over and visited the Meetings, 
obtained divers new Meetings, and they set 
up a men's Meeting among them, to see to the 
good ordering and governing of the affairs re- 
lating to truth and Friends. And this time 
did it please the Lord to open my understand- 
ing abundantly, that I began to declare, in 
their own tongue, the things that God had 



STEPHEN CRISP. 63 

committed unto me to minister; and several 
received the everlasting Gospel, and were 
brought to feel the power of God, by which 
they are saved from the world, and the pol- 
luted ways therein. Then, while travelling in 
those provinces of Holland, Friesland, and 
Groningen, &c. I was moved to pass into 
Germany, to which I gave up in the fourth 
Month that same year ; and, by the way, met 
with many perils and dangers, by reason of 
the horrible darkness, popery, cruelty, and 
superstitions of those lands and dominions 
through which I travelled, so that sometimes 
it was as if my life were in my hands, to offer 
up for my testimony ; but the Lord preserved 
me, and brought me, upon the fourteenth day 
of that Month, to Griesham, near Worms, 
where I found divers who had received the 
everlasting Truth, and had stood in a testi- 
mony for God about ten years, in great suffer- 
ings and tribulations, who received me as a 
servant of God ; and my testimony was as a 
dew upon the tender grass unto them. I had 
five good Meetings among them ; and divers 
heard the truth, and several were reached and 
convinced ; and Friends were established in 
the faith. 

f2 



64 



THE LIFE OF 



It was also Justin an hour of temptation and 
time of trial among them, that the Lord had 
cast me there, for the Prince of that land, call- 
ed the Palsgrave, had imposed a fine upon 
them for their Meetings, to wit, four rix-dollars 
the year for each family, which they (for con- 
science' sake) not paying, he sent an order to 
take the value in goods ; whereupon his un- 
reasonable executioners came and took away 
the treble value ; but Friends suffered the spoil- 
ing of their goods with great joy and glad- 
ness, and counted it a happiness that they 
were counted worthy to suffer for his Name's 
sake, who had called them to the knowledge 
of his blessed Truth, and to bear a testimony 
in that dark desert, to the light of the Lord 
Jesus. 

So I went to Heydelburgh, to the Prince of 
that land ; and had a good opportunity with 
him, and laid before him the danger of his 
proceeding on in persecution. He heard me 
with a great deal of friendliness, and dis- 
coursed things at large with me; and in seve- 
ral things promised it should be better, as it 
did also after come to pass. So, having finish- 
ed that service in Germany, I returned ; and 
being come into the Low Country again, I 



STEPHEN CRISP. 65 

went to Groningen, where divers had believed 
in the Name of Jesus the Light of the world ; 
whom, when I had visited in the power of 
God, and strengthened in the faith, I left, and 
returned through Friesland to Amsterdam. 
Here, by reason of my now speaking in their 
own language, Meetings grew exceeding 
great ; and many strangers came flocking in, 
and a great openness I found in the country ; 
but being required of the Lord to come to 
England, I left them to the word of that grace 
which they had received of God, which was 
able to keep them ; and came over into Eng- 
land in the latter end of the year. 

I went towards London, in order to visit the 
Churches in the western parts of England, 
whose faces in the outward I had never seen, 
though I had long desired it. So passing 
from London, I went through Berkshire and 
Wiltshire, having many precious Meetings 
with the Lord's people. I came to Bristol, 
where I found a people, among whom my soul 
was greatly refreshed; and I stayed with them 
about a week or nine days. Then, in a true 
sense of the Eternal Power, in which the true 
fellowship always stood, we took leave one of 
another ; and I departed, and travelled that 
p 3 



66 THE LIFE OF 

winter with my companion in tbe Gospel,* 
Samuel Cater, through Somersetshire, De- 
vonshire, and Cornwall, to the Land's End of 
England, visiting the Churches in those parts 
to our mutual comfort. And I returned by 
Plymouth, visiting the southern sea coast, even 
to Portsmouth. Then, passing through Hamp- 
shire and Surrey, came to London, and so to 
Colchester again, to the gladdening the hearts 
of God's heritage in that place ; many of 
whom have, with me, many a time rejoiced 
and given thanks to Him that liveth and 
reigneth forever, for my preservation through 
all perils and dangers, and the multitudes of 
deliverances, of which I was daily made a 
partaker. 

Being moved of the Lord, I appointed a 
Meeting at a place called Chelmondiston, 
where divers had received the truth and tes- 
timony of God through me his servant ; and 
there a priest who once, two years before, had 
betrayed me to the ruler, and had gotten me 
into prison, now procured a warrant to have 
me cast into prison, and so I was in the first 
Month, 1670, in Ipswich Gaol ; being com- 
mitted to the said Gaol for being at a Conven- 
ticle, (so called,) upon the Statute of the 14th 



STEPHEN CRISP. 87 

of King Charles, which saith : " If a person be 
convicted of a Conventicle, he shall pay some 
sum of money not exceeding five pounds, or 
lie in prison some time, not exceeding three 
months." And the Judge of Assizes, R. Rains- 
ford, in his haste and passion, not regarding 
the law, but his own will, committed me to lie 
in Gaol until I would pay five pounds ; but 
afterwards being convinced of his error, he 
wrote an order for my release at three month's 
end. 

Being released, I was drawn forth in the 
love of God, again to cross the seas, about 
the fifth Month, 1670, and went to Holland, 
to visit the remnant there that had believed, 
and to strengthen their faith ; and for some 
weeks I preached the Gospel in divers cities, 
unto the inhabitants and strangers, who came 
in great numbers oftimes to Meetings, hearing 
there was one that spake in their own lan- 
guage ; and many were reached, and some 
overcome by the power of Truth ; and the 
hand of the Lord was with me in a blessed 
manner, to the refreshing of my soul, and fill- 
ing my vessel ; and the overflowings of my cup 
made many glad. 



68 THE LIFE OF 

Then, about the seventh Month, a concern 
arose in me to travel eastward, and to visit 
those dismal dark countries in the lower parts 
of Germany, and the borders of Denmark and 
Sweden, where the Lutheran Religion bears 
sway, and darkness and wickedness in the 
strength of it. O ! the weight and burden I 
felt many times, as I travelled through their 
towns and cities, where it might well be said, 
none did good, none considered their ways, 
none thought upon the name of the Lord as 
they ought to do, but all manner of wicked- 
ness abounded ; among whom I and my com- 
panion, Peter Hendricks, were as signs and 
wonders, because our manner and conversa- 
tion, our words and discourses, carried nothing 1 
but judgment to them ; and sometimes we gave 
them books and papers of Friends, which we 
left with them. And though the rage of many 
kindled against us, yet the Lord made way for 
us, and we had a safe and prosperous voyage* 
and came to Hamborough, and had a Meeting 
upon a first day with those there who were 
convinced, and then went down into the duke- 
dom of Holstein or Holsatia, belonging to the 
kingdom of Denmark. 

Having travelled two days' journey, about 



STEPHEN CRISP. C9 

seventy English miles from Hamborough, we 
came to Frederickstadt, where we found the 
brethren met together to wait upon the Lord, 
upon the fourth day of the week, who receiv- 
ed us joyfully. With them we sat down, and 
were refreshed in the fellowship of that blessed 
Gospel, which is ordained for a blessing to 
all nations, tongues, and kindreds, who believe 
and obey it. After that we gave notice of a 
Meeting publicly in the city, to be on the 
sixth day, unto which many of the city came; 
and particularly the Skout, or chief Magistrate 
of the city, and the Messenger, or Sergeant of 
the city ; and the power of God was much 
manifest among us; and much brokenness there 
was among the people, and they received 
the doctrine of truth with much love and ten* 
derness. 

On the first day of the week, in the morn- 
ing, we had a Meeting again with the brethren, 
and such as were convinced, and a great open- 
ness was among us from the Lord ; and in the 
afternoon we had another public meeting, at 
which were about a hundred people, and 
every one's mouth stopped ; for though li- 
berty was given for objection, yet none was 
made. 



70 THE LIFE OF 

These things troubled the minds of some 
professors and teachers, who had enmity in 
their hearts against the truth, insomuch that 
two of them came towards evening, and de- 
sired a dispute with me, which being granted, 
about forty or fifty persons came in to hear ; 
and for an hour or two, we spake together, 
and the power of God was over them, and 
they were divided between themselves ; which 
when the more moderate saw, he went away ; 
but the other, one Eppinhooft, stayed till he 
made his folly manifest to most that were in 
the room, in particulars too large here to re- 
late. So truth stood over them, and the city 
was in a tender, cool^ and loving frame, and 
divers were added to the Church, and to the 
faith which saveth ; and the city hath remain- 
ed in such a frame ever since, and hath been 
visited by divers brethren, as Thomas Green 
and William Penn, who have had good 
Meetings amongst them to their mutual re- 
freshment. 

So on the second day of the week,we met toge- 
ther early in the morning-, and committed each 
other to God, with prayer and supplication ; 
and they accompanied us to the Jider, which 
runneth by the city ; and there we parted in 



STEPHEN CRISP. 71 

that love which never changeth,and set our faces 
again towards Hamborough, whither we came 
safely the next day. After we had visited 
Friends there, we took boat and came over 
the Elbe ; and, by waggon, came to Bremen, 
where we left several books ; and so we passed 
back to Oldenburgh, and thence to Embden, 
where, upon a first day of the week, it lay 
upon me to go to an assembly of the ministers, 
(a kind of Baptists,) at which, after one Hert 
Jansen had preached, and the prayer time was 
over, (for they speak no words in prayer, but 
all kneel down, and are silent, every one pray- 
ing in his own mind as seemeth good to him,) 
I say, after that, I stood forth and spake in the 
Dutch tongue about half an hour, exhorting 
them to come to God's witness, that they 
might feel judgment set up in them to cleanse 
them, and to prepare them for the Lord, &c. 

After this, the preacher stood up again, and 
vindicated and maintained by Scripture what 
I had said, exhorting them to receive my ex- 
hortation. The same evening divers people 
came together at the house of one Remelkie, a 
poor maid, who had neither hands nor feet ; a 
devout woman, who sought after the way of 
God, and received us gladly to her house,where 



72 THE LIFE OF 

I was moved to declare the truth of God 
among them ; and after that we had some 
words by way of dispute, and parted lovingly. 
The next day, divers of them came again to 
us and kept us company ; and about mid-day 
we parted very friendly. I, with my compa- 
nion, took shipping for Delfe-Siele, and so we 
came to Groningen, and had a meeting with 
Friends, to our mutual refreshment ; and 
thence came to Lee Warden, where the Fries- 
land Lords had a law to put Quakers in the 
Bridewell for five years, that should dare to 
come into their province of Friesland : by 
which law they had taken three Friends of 
Amsterdam, and put them in prison. They 
had also made an order that no Quakers 
should go in to visit them ; which having un- 
derstood, the zeal and love of God sprang in 
my heart, and set me over them and their 
wicked law ; and I took a pen and wrote to 
their Lord President, and told them they had 
done worse than heathens ; and seeing they 
had made a law to imprison all Quakers, there 
was I and two more with me, were come to 
visit the prisoners, and desired liberty to do 
so ; for we feared God more than them and 
their law ; and were come to fulfil our 



STEPHEN CRISP. 73 

Christian duty to our brethren, whom they 
had so unjustly cast into prison. 

The President carried the letter to the 
Council, but the Lord limited them, and they 
let it pass by, and did not lay hands on us. So 
we appointed a Meeting in the city; and, after 
having tarried there several days, we went to 
Workum, and took shipping for Amsterdam, 
and came there on the first day morning, about 
the beginning of the ninth Month. 

Being come again to Friends in Holland, we 
had many precious Meetings together in divers 
cities, as Alkmaer, Haarlem, Rotterdam, &c. 
And a young man having heard in Switzer- 
land, where he lived, that he had a brother in 
Holland turned Quaker, in his zeal came 
down, thinking to turn him ; but the truth 
prevailed upon him, the first and second days 
he heard it declared ; so that he owned it, and 
became obedient to the cross, the first week 
he was there, to the great comfort of Friends, 
and most'of all of his brother. So, having tra* 
veiled through the Meetings, and visited 
Friends, in the tenth Month, I committed them 
to the Lord, and to the word of his Grace, 
and returned again to England ; and was to 

G 



74 THE LIFE OP 

and fro visiting the Churches in London, 
and in divers parts of the nation, for three or 
four months. 

At this time, I understood that divers ex- 
alted spirits were gotten up among them that 
had believed in Friesland, who began to set 
forth strange doctrine among Friends, and 
sought to unsettle the minds of them that had 
newly received the faith amongst them, and 
had begun to seduce them from their Meetings, 
and to wait upon, and to mind strange motions 
and imaginations, which had been the ruin of 
many in former ages, who were not arrived at 
discerning. So the zeal of God moved in me 
against that spirit, and the love to the tender 
seed drew me again over the seas, which was 
of great service to Friends and the truth. 
Thus I laboured greatly to inform the minds 
of Friends, of the depths of that ranting spirit, 
and whither it would lead, and where it would 
centre ; having had long experience of it here 
in England. 

Thus the power arose among Friends ; and 
they began to note such as were disorderly 
and unruly, and to call them to an account ; 
ami took great pains with them, to regain and 



STEPHEN CRISP. 75 

recover them out of the snare of the devil ; 
making many journies and visits to them, 
which proved not ineffectual, divers being 
helped and brought back. Howbeit, some were 
hardened, and waxed worse and worse, and 
turned against the power ofGod,into enmity and 
opposition against Friends, so that a necessity 
was upon Friends to clear themselves and the 
truth, of them and their evil works ; and the 
more so because we saw that the mind in 
which they were so vainly puffed up, was 
fleshly, as afterwards appeared. So Friends 
called them to their general men's Meeting, 
but they refused to come ; then Friends jour- 
neyed to them time after time, to warn them, 
and to exhort them to turn again to the truth, 
which they were fallen from ; but when no 
counsel would take place with several of them, 
Friends put out a paper against them for the 
clearing of the truth. 

And after these things I came for England 
again, in the fourth Month, 1671, and travelled 
through several counties, being much rejoic- 
ed to see the peace, unity, and courage that 
were among the people of God 3 after the sore 
persecution that had been among them: and 
passed up to London, and so back again to 
g 2 



76 - THE LIFE OF 

Colchester. Here, having a sore sickness, nigh 
unto death in appearance, it came upon me 
to go into the North country, to visit the 
churches in Yorkshire and Bishoprick, &c. 
where I had not been of three or four years, 
by reason of my being much beyond the seas; 
but the love of the Lord abounded in my 
heart unto those dear friends northward ; and 
I was pressed in spirit till I had cleared 
myself of all things that lay upon me in my 
own country. And upon the 3\st of the Sth 
Month took my journey forward, and, going 
through the isle of Ely, found dear Samuel 
Cator, who was pressed in spirit to visit friends 
in Scotland, and so became my companion as 
far as Newcastle. 

Through several places we travelled, to the 
refreshment of ourselves and many more ; and 
the Lord delivered us out of the hands of the 
ungodly informers, who were then very alert 
throughout the nation, on account of the new 
act which was made to fine us for speaking in 
Meetings, Twenty Pounds the first time, and 
Forty Pounds a time after. This law made 
them greedy in all parts ; but in all places 
they were, through the wisdom and power of 
God, frustrated; and though the winter was 



STEPHEN CRISP, 77 

very sharp, and my body now through much 
affliction very infirm, yet was I marvellously 
supported through that journey. Having 
parted with my honest companion at New- 
castle, I turned westward, and came southward 
another way than I went; and so to London 
again ; and, after having visited friends, I re- 
turned to my outward habitation again at 
Colchester, to the joy of my poor wife and 
friends, who had longings for my return, as I 
had to see their faces ; which desires, the Lord 
to our comfort answered, about the twelfth 
Month, 1671. 

Having continued visiting friends to and 
fro, the fore part of the year, about Midsum- 
mer I took shipping for the Low Countries 
again, to visit the flock of God, where I la- 
boured and travelled about three months in 
Holland and Friesland, in the time of that 
great consternation and confusion that was 
upon them, by reason of the great and sudden 
progress the king of France did make upon 
the United Provinces: and though the founda- 
tions of their pomp, power, and glory were 
then shaken and ready to be overturned ; y-e.t 
I saw the foundation of Satan's kingdom stand 
very fast among them; and the people, instead 
g 3 



78 THE LIFE OF 

of turning to the Lord by unfeigned repen- 
tance, grew worse and worse, and debauched 
themselves by drinking, gaming, and sport- 
ing; and the burthen thereof came upon me, 
and I was made to cry out against them in the 
power of the Most High, and warn them to 
repent, and put away every man the evil of 
his doings. Also I wrote down the counsel 
of the Lord as it was manifest in me, shewing 
them the cause of their misery, and where 
their remedy must be. And I caused it to be 
printed, and made public to those countries ; 
and many copies Avere given to the chief 
rulers and commanders; so I cleared my 
conscience in the sight of God concerning 
those nations for that time, and left the na- 
tion, returning for England about the eighth 
Month, 1672. 

After having been sometime at my own 
home, and having visited friends in divers 
counties, I went to London and parts adja- 
cent, preaching the everlasting Gospel, and 
witnessing the grace of God in Jesus Christ, 
which shined forth to gather the elect seed 
out of the house of bondage and darkness. 
And the Lord was with me daily, to the rejoic- 
ing of thousands, and to my daily encourage- 



STEPHEN CRISP. 79 

ment: for by his mighty power were many 
strong oaks bowed, and many subtil foxes 
prevented of their prey, and many wandering 
sheep brought home, who had for a long time 
longed to find the fold of rest; and whose 
souls will ever live with my soul, in his cove- 
nant, to praise Him world without end. 

Having spent about six months in this 
manner, I found it upon me from the Lord, 
again, to pass over the sea, and to visit divers 
places where truth had been little or not at 
all sounded; and, in particular, that hard- 
hearted city of Embden, in East Friesland, 
where one John William Hasbert, a Doctor 
of Physick, received me with great cheerful- 
ness ; and I had a meeting in his house upon 
the first day of the week, about the latter end 
of the First Month, 1673 ; where many people 
of divers persuasions did hear the truth de- 
clared, in great plainness and simplicity; and, 
after some time, those that were convinced, 
were drawn in love to God to assemble toge- 
ther, to worship God in spirit and in truth 
and in the silence of that fleshly wisdom that 
can speak when it listeth, and say what it 
listeth. 



80 THE LIFE OF 

At the first, they sat down, about ten per- 
sons, in vHasbert's house, to wait upon the 
Lord : and when this was noised about the 
city, the wicked one stirred up the priests 
and rulers against them ; and they stirred up 
the rude and ignorant people to assault them, 
mock, reproach, and revile them; and the 
rulers fell quickly to fining, imprisoning 5 
threatening, and banishing those weak and 
tender plants, in almost an unheard of manner. 
They banished some sixteen or twenty times, 
spoiling all they had, save their clothes, and 
at last, fell upon them also ; taking away their 
coats, hats, gloves, aprons, &c. &c. and driv- 
ing them through the streets almost naked, 
aboard the ships that were to carry them 
away; all which and much more, by the 
mighly power of the Lord, did these innocent, 
harmless lambs bear with great patience and 
quietness, and were not dismaj^ed at all at these 
cruelties; for the Lord had regard to his 
Name and to their innocent cry, and supported 
them, and doth support them ; and they have 
found it true, that they that wait upon the 
Lord, have renewed their strength. Blessed 
be the Lord for ever ! 

So returning thence from Holland into 
Friesland, I continued about three or four 



STEPHEN CRISP. 81 

months, and published the glad tidings of 
salvation, in their own tongue, to all that had 
an ear to hear; and about the same time were 
divers great pillars, both as to state and reli- 
gion, shaken ; and divers of those who had 
been in great places in government were con- 
vinced, and their understandings were opened 
concerning the way of truth, and began to 
struggle and contend for it in that wisdom 
that was from beneath. These I faithfully 
warned and counselled in the love of God, 
not to seek to comprehend the truth, but to 
wait in lowliness to be comprehended by it, 
and gathered into the precious life thereof. 
But O ! the cross, the offence of the cross, they 
could not bear with, but sought divers ways 
to satisfy themselves with owning the doctrine 
and words of truth, and loving friends who 
walked therein ; but they came not down to 
the simplicity of the Gospel, (excepting one 
of them,) nor to be separated from the world, 
nor from those things in which the world's 
fellowship stands ; though they were brought 
to confess the way of truth, and to cry out of 
the load that lay upon the soul. Howbeit the 
sound of their convincement did tend to the 
advantage of the Gospel, for many came to 
meetings, and that of the most honourable; 



82 



THE LIFE OF 



and some were convinced, of divers ranks, 
qualities, and persuasions, especially in Rot- 
terdam, where meetings then grew very large, 
and truth came to have a good esteem, in 
the hearts of many who had hated it and us 
without a cause. 

So, after I had spent three or four months in 
those parts, and found myself clear, I returned 
for England, against the General Meeting in 
the fourth Month, 1674. I then travelled 
with great diligence through divers counties, 
and went again to Bristol, and visited the 
churches in many parts of England, to my 
and their great refreshment; and the Lord 
was with me, and gave me utterance and wis- 
dom as I stood in need ; for He kept me poor 
in spirit and low in mind, and I knew that 
my dependance was upon Him alone, who 
knew well how to order both me and my 
service; and who gave me judgment to rebuke 
gain-sayers, and to stop the mouths of them 
that opposed themselves. So I continued till 
about the fourth Month, 1675, at which time 
I understood the former openness did continue 
in the Low Countries; and I was drawn in 
the love of God again to go over thither, to 
visit them, and to behold their order ; which 
I did to my great comfort, and found the 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



83 



noble plant flourishing, and a living testimony 
opened and raised up in divers of them that 
had believed; and they spake of the goodness 
of God in their congregations, warning all 
men that they might turn to the Lord by 
unfeigned repentance, and that they might 
wait to see his salvation. 

And hearing of the great sufferings of 
friends at Embden, I went thither to visit 
them, and hearing of a law they had published 
of Twenty-five Pounds fine for every one that 
should harbour a friend in his or their house ; 
I desired to see it, and took it, and wrote a 
book to their hard-hearted rulers and priests, 
and answered their wicked mandate with 
sharp and sound judgment, and caused it to 
be delivered among them; and the power 
came over them, and they laid no hands on 
me, nor did me any harm, though I was pub- 
licly in their city two days, and known by 
many of them. After this their fury abated, 
and friends began to have some more freedom 
than formerly. 

About the eighth Month, 1676, having tra- 
velled through the Provinces, and visited 
many places and cities, I returned in the will 



84 THE LIFE OP 

of God to my own home; finding my body 
much decayed and disabled from travel and 
labour more than formerly; yet satisfied in 
the will of God, who laid no more upon me, 
than He gave me ability to perform ; and as 
He hath always been abundant in goodness to 
me, so He is to this day, Blessed be his Name 
for ever! And this I can say, my delight is 
to do his will; and my joy is that He hath 
counted me worthy to bear his Holy Name 
and testimony among the sons and daughters 
of men. And O ! that all men would fear the 
Lord, and walk in the way of his righteousness, 
that they might come to have the evidence 
and testimony of his goodness in themselves ! 

I passed that winter in visiting the churches 
in Essex and Suffolk, and sometimes in Lon- 
don, where it pleased the Lord to appear with 
me for his Name and tender seed's sake, to 
the convincement of several, and strengthen- 
ing of many : Glory be to Him alone for 
ever ! 

The winter being over, I again felt draw- 
ings to pass over sea; finding a particular 
care and charge laid upon me concerning 
those parts, in which the Lord had given me 



STEPHEN CRISP. 85 

great encouragement ; and I saw that I had 
not laboured in vain : Praises be to his Name ! 



About the first Month, 1677, I took ship- 
ping for Holland, where I found friends very 
well and in good order ; and their men and 
women's meetings were become a delight to 
them, as having not only enjoyed the Lord's 
presence in them, but having also seen the 
great benefit that had come thereby, and the 
ease they had from the weights that had for- 
merly lain upon them. Having several times 
visited their Meetings in Holland, I went over 
into Friesland, to Harlingen, where many 
Friends of that country met me upon a first 
day; and we had two precious and large 
Meetings ; and many professors came to hear, 
who had nothing to say against the testimony 
of truth. 

So, having seen friends there, and finding 
myself disabled for long journies, I returned 
for Holland, and having staid there with 
great joy and comfort in seeing truth's pros- 
perity, about the latter end of the third Month 
I came back for England, and passed for 
London, where I was most of that summer 
and in the parts adjacent. And then the Lord 



86 THE LIFE OF 

put it into my heart again to visit the Meet- 
ings round about Colchester where I lived, 
which, with much pain and trouble of body, 
though with much joy in spirit, I accom- 
plished, and found Friends in most places 
well ; and where I found the subtile, crafty 
serpent seeking to scatter and to divide God's 
heritage, I reproved it with great plainness 
and confidence in the Lord, who had shewed 
me the mystery of that iniquity ; and how 
the enemy of truth sought to cover himself 
with truth's words; and, under pretence of 
leaving all to the Power, would usher in 
a spirit of liberty to lay waste the blessed 
testimony of God, and scatter his people out 
of the good order into which the Gospel (the 
power of God) had brought them. 



ner I continued at and about home most of 
that winter, waiting upon the Lord to be led 
and guided in my service and testimony ac- 
cording to his will: for I found that though, 
through long experience, my senses were 
exercised in the service of God and the 
churches, jet I had nothing to trust to, as a. 
guide or leader, how and after what manner 
to minister in the church of Christ, but the 



STEPHEN CRISP. 87 

same that led me in the beginning, even the 
immediate operation of the power that brings 
forth, in the will of God, all things suitable to 
their season, that the glory might be to the 
power, and the praises to Him that gives it, 
for ever and for evermore. 

And afterwards, the winter being over, the 
Lord renewed my strength, and having fur- 
ther service for me to do, gave me ability. 

And about the first Month, [answering to the 
third Month, N. S.] 1678, 1 found some powerful 
drawings in the love of God to go down once 
more into Yorkshire, where I had had much 
service for the Lord, but had not now been 
there for about six or seven years. So I went 
down to Hull, and visited the churches about 
Holderness, and Hull, and Beverley, Malton 
and York, in all which places I saw the glory 
of the temple of my God shine forth in great 
splendour, notwithstanding all the rage of the 
adversary ; and I had a precious service in 
every place; and the hearts of many were 
opened, and the souls of many dear friends 
were truly refreshed, and the Bread of Life 
was plentiful among us, to our mutual joy and 
rejoicingj in this journey. My soul was greatly 
h 2 



So THE LIFE OP 

comforted to see so many of the ancients, and 
honourable men and women abiding in their 
places, and growing up in the house of God 
as fellow-helpers in the Gospel with us; so, 
after about seven weeks tarrying in those 
parts, I committed them to the grace of God, 
and returned for London to the Yearly Meet- 
ing, where, having tarried a week or two y I 
returned and set things in order in my own 
house. 

After a while I again crossed the seas, and 
went to labour in the little vineyard there, to 
my great refreshment ; and going over about 
the fourth Month, 1678, continued there till 
about the ninth Month of the same year, in 
which time the Lord laid it upon me to go up 
southward, to divers cities upon the Rhine, 
where several had received a notion of the 
truth in a talkative mind, but were not come 
to a sense of the cross and dyings of Christ 
Jesus, nor to a separation from the foolish 
and vain customs and salutations that are in 
the world. I spake with several of this sort 
of people at Cleeves and Wesell. At the 
latter place I had a meeting upon a first day, 
about the harvest time there, where several 
heard the truth declared in the plainness and 



STEPHEN CRISP. 89 

simplicity of the Gospel; and a love was 
begotten in them. But O! the cross, the 
cross, that was and is very hard to that mind, 
that- would fain inherit both kingdoms ! Great 
struggling there was by divers of them, to 
argue themselves into a liberty to abide in 
the customs of the world, and to walk in and 
obey the light of the Lord Jesus also. But 
in vain was all that labour, and ever will be, 
for the disciple must be as his Master; and 
He sought not nor received honour of men : 
and having answered the witness for God in 
them, I was not studious how to feed their 
curious inquiring minds concerning things 
beyond their state and condition ; but parted 
with them in the love of God, and true breath- 
ings to the Lord, for the bringing forth, in the 
Lord's due time, what He had begotten ; and 
so I committed them to the grace of God, and 
returned into Holland, where it pleased the 
Lord to visit me with sickness for several 
weeks. 

Finding myself clear of all those parts for 
the present, I caused a boat to be prepared 
and brought to the door of my lodging, and I 
lay down in it, being very weak, and so was 
conveyed to Rotterdam, where my strength 
h 3 



90 THE LIFE OP 

was so much renewed, that I went into their 
meeting on the first day, and, for about half 
an hour, declared the truth of the Gospel 
among them, exhorting to a steadfast abiding 
therein unto the end. Shortly after I got 
into the packet boat for England, and so to 
my own house, still remaining very weak, 
and freely given up in the will of God, that if 
my service were ended, I might lay down my 
head in my own habitation, after all my trials 
and travels. But the Lord was pleased to 
restore me ; so that I was able to go and ride 
about and visit the meetings about home, and 
also got twice to London in that winter, where 
my joy was to behold the brethren that live 
in the unity of that power, that shall bruise 
Satan and his work under foot, and lay waste 
his kingdom. So having visited some of the 
assemblies of the Lord's people in Hertford- 
shire and other places, and cleared myself of 
what lay upon me in the city, I returned to 
my place in the will of God, remaining as a 
servant waiting to be ordered, and as a child 
waiting to be fed of Him who is the Father 
and Fountain of all my mercies, blessings and 
deliverances ; to whom be the glory for ever- 
more* 



STEPHEN CRISP. 91 

The next summer, finding no necessity lying 
upon me as formerly, I went not over sea; 
but after the general meeting was over, it lay 
upon me to visit friends again at Bristol and 
thereabouts, being at that time under a deep 
sense of some great exercise that the church 
of God was in, by reason of some who, under 
a pretence of exalting the power, sought to 
make void the wholesome order and govern- 
ment which the pure power had led us into, 
crying down formality and men's orders, &c. 
And when I came there, I found that this 
licentious spirit had hurt many, and grieved 
many more; and a weight came upon me; 
and I laboured in the power of the gift that 
the Father had bestowed upon me, in meek- 
ness and patience, dealing with every one hi 
sincerity, labouring to shew them that were 
concerned, whither the tendency of that work 
would reach, even to the throwing down of 
that hedge that God had built about his heri- 
tage, and laying waste the work of the power 
under pretence of crying up the power itself; 
and by crying down men's orders, would draw 
from the Gospel order, and from the blessed 
fellowship that was in it. 

And it pleased the Lord to give me an 



92 THE LIFE OP 

open door among them, and many were 
tender, and became more watchful ; though 
others, in the meanwhile, made but an ill use 
of all the tender dealings in the love of God, 
and sought thereby to strengthen themselves. 
After about twenty days I returned, and came 
to London ; and towards winter, I returned 
homeward, where I continued in the peace of 
God, having my blessed reward with me, 
which no reflections of the adversary could 
take from me. And I was exercised, accord- 
ing to my ability, in visiting the assemblies 
of the Lord's people in Essex and Suffolk, 
where it lay upon me ; and in helping and 
assisting the Lord's People according to my 
ability, both in their spiritual and temporal 
concerns, as the Lord God of my life gave me 
an understanding : for I gave up the ordering 
of my spirit unto Him ; and He opened me in 
many things relating to the affairs of this 
world, that I might be as a staff to the weak 
in those things, and might stand by the 
widow and fatherless, and plead the right of 
the poor. In all which, I sought neither 
honour nor profit, but did all things freely, as 
I received of God : and He whom I served 
was my reward, so that 1 lacked nothing. 



STEPHEN CRISP. 03 

Therefore who would not praise the Lord, 
and who would not trust in his Name ? 

When the winter was over, I went again 
to London, and into Hertfordshire, and places 
that way, visiting the flock of God, and 
staid till our General Meeting was over, and 
then found drawings to visit the little remnant 
beyond the seas, in Holland and Friesland, 
and continued among them, and in those 
parts, about three months. In this time ft 
came upon me, in the great love of God, to 
visit a little innocent remnant that had be- 
lieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, and professed 
his name, in Crevelt, in the land of Meurs, 
who, for their testimony^ had suffered many 
things and grievous, and been several times 
banished from house and home, and made to 
wander with wife and children to seek har- 
bour or shelter in strange cities and places. 
These I found now returned to their dwellings, 
and was joyfully received by them, and much 
refreshed by them ; beholding their faith and 
courage, and their steadfastness in the testi- 
mony they had to bear for the Lord. I 
tarried with them about three days, and had 
several precious public meetings in the city } 



94 THE LIFE OP 

and sounded the day of the Lord's tender 
visitation in the ears of many of the inhabi- 
tants, who generally behaved themselves in 
great sobriety and moderation, neither mock- 
ing nor scoffing, nor evilly intreating us. 

It is rare to find a people so moderate in 
those parte, which are in the borders of the 
dark Romish religion, and as it were inter- 
mixed with it. But I speak it to their praise, 
no man evilly intreated me, and the Lord's 
power was over all ■ for which we blessed and 
praised his Name. And having comforted 
and strengthened them that had believed, 
I did commit them to the grace of God, 
and left them, and returned again to Holland 
another way, through the Spanish Nether- 
lands ; where I saw great abominations and 
idolatry, and worshipping and praying to 
images, &c which grieved my soul ; and I 
could not but declare against it in 'several 
places, as the Lord made way. And being 
come back to Holland, I soon made way for 
my return home, and cleared myself of the 
meetings in Holland, and took shippiug for 
England, and got home on the eleventh of 
September, 1680, 



STEPHEN CRISP. 95 

And soon after it pleased God to visit me 
with a sharp fever, which brought me in ap- 
pearance nigh to the grave; in which His 
presence was with me, and supported me, and 
refreshed my soul many a time, so that death 
was not terrible to me ; but I found myself 
quietly given up in the will of God ; whether to 
live or die I was contented. But after about 
ten days the fever was abated, and I per- 
ceived my days would be yet added unto ; in 
which I was well satisfied, having a constant 
resolution fixed in my soul, whether my 
days be few or many, to spend them in the 
service of God and his dear people, who 
are to me, as my mother, my brother, and my 
sister, yea, as my own children ; finding a 
natural love in my heart to all my father's 
children, and a true love to the brotherhood. 
And my God hath put it far from me to 
despise the cause of the poor, or to respect the 
rich in judgment; but, according to the gift 
and understanding given me, I have walked 
with a straight foot in the gospel ; the honour 
of all, with the praise of all which belongs 
alone to Him that hath wrought it ; yea, his 
own work praiseth Him, and shall praise Him, 
who is worthy, both now and for evermore. 



96 THE LIFE OF 

And after it pleased God to restore me to 
a measure of health and ability, I spent the 
following "winter in visiting the Meetings 
about Essex, and went to Yarmouth and Nor- 
wich, where I had not been for many years ; 
and I beheld the work of the Lord arising 
again in that great city, and many were 
made tender, by the powerful impression of 
the word of God. And having stayed there- 
abouts in Norfolk about a month, I returned 
again in peace, rejoicing in the prosperity of 
the Lord's work, and came by Ipswich, and 
so home. 

Shortly after it came into my heart, in the 
workings of the love of God towards his 
people, to take a journey once more into 
Yorkshire, which proved to the mutual re- 
freshment of me and many more ; for coming 
to York a few days before their Yearly 
Meeting, I went to Scarborough, whereby 
many Friends, both of Whitby and Burling- 
ton, and the country round about, had oppor- 
tunity of coming to me, now when I, through 
bodily weakness, could not go to them, as I 
had formerly done ; and much service I had 
for the Lord and his people there, both in 
some particular cases, and also in the general 
and public testimony of the Gospel. Then 



STEPHEN CRISP. 97 

returning to York, and staying there a few 
days with them, at their general yearly meet- 
ing, I went thence to Hull, and into Holder- 
ness, and tarried thereabouts till about harvest 
time ; and then finding myself clear of those 
parts, I returned to York, and thence to Lon- 
don: and after some days and weeks stay 
there returned home. 

By this time, I "was again overtaken with 
great pains of the Stone and other distempers, 
which brought ray body very low ; and little 
was expected by any, but my departure. 
And I found myself given up to the will of 
God, which I knew was best of all ; and if my 
service in this world was at an end, I was 
content to leave it; and if the Lord of the 
great household had more work for me, I 
knew He could and would raise me up : and 
so He did in his own time; and I grew again 
able to go abroad, and got to our quarterly 
meeting in the tenth Month, and then after to 
visit friends in Harwich and Ipswich, and 
some other places, but was for the most part 
of this winter, 1681, about my own dwelling 
at Colchester, where I saw my desire in 
part answered, concerning several who were 
brought to the acknowledgment and profession 



yo THE LIFE OF 

of the truth, whom I hope the Lord will 
build up by his power, and by the operations 
of his Spirit; for He alone can give the 
increase, to whom the glory and praise alone 
doth belong. 

The next year, 1682, having spent the sum- 
mer mostly about home and in London, about 
harvest it came into my heart, in the dear love 
of God, to go visit his church and people 
again, at and about the city of Norwich, that 
I might be a means of strength and refresh- 
ment unto them, in the sharp trials and suf- 
ferings that I was sensible were then coming 
upon them, to try their faith and patience. 
And the same day I came into the city, I went 
to their meeting ; and there came one called 
a Justice, with constables and the informers, 
and a great rabble of wild and ungodly men, 
who seemed as if they would devour us, and 
haled me, with about a dozen friends, to their 
Judgment-hall, where the Mayor and Alder- 
men met : and divers practices were used to 
insnare me, and bring me into bonds; but the 
Lord God of my life was with me, as in for- 
mer days, and gave me courage and wisdom, 
by which all their snares were broken. 



STEPHEN CRISP. 99 

Not having bad opportunity to clear myself 
yet in public, I went the first day was a week 
following, after I had visited some country 
meetings, to their meetings in the city, where 
the Lord appeared wonderfully to bind and 
limit the adversary; so that the meetings 
were very large that day, both before noon 
and after noon, by reason of country friends 
coming thither, and abundance that were not 
friends: and all was quiet and peaceable, for 
which we gave thanks to God, who we knew 
was the Author of it, and had set his Divine 
power as a hedge about us for his Name's 
sake. And I saw in the light of the Lord, 
that the friends there were as soldiers, with 
their armour on, well prepared for the ap- 
proaching conflict, which came forthwith 
sharp upon them, after I was come from 
them ; which they have borne and suffered 
with great faith and courage, to the glory of 
the Lord, and the confounding of their adver- 
saries; and the Lord hath appeared with 
them and for them, both supporting them in 
their sharp sufferings, and sometimes giving 
them some intermissions thereof; so that they 
are kept alive to his praise, that hath quick- 
ened and preserved them. 

i 2 
1 Lof.C. 



100 THE LIFE OF 

And having finished what was upon me 
there, I returned home, and continued at and 
about home that winter, and was visited with 
some weakness of body ; and in the spring, 
found drawings upon me once more to visit 
the flock of God in the Low Countries. So I 
went first to London to the yearly meeting ; 
where, though the enemy had opened his 
mouth wide to devour us, and much persecu- 
tion was raised against our peaceable assem- 
blies, and we were often deprived of the 
benefit of our meeting places, yet none could 
deprive us of the Lord's power and presence, 
which was evidently manifest amongst us; 
and the blessed fellowship of life was felt and 
witnessed to our great joy and consolation; 
for which high praises were offered up to 
God, through Jesus Christ, in the humility of 
our souls. 

The yearly meeting of London being over, 
I went with divers brethren of Dantzic, Am- 
sterdam, and Friesland, towards Holland, to 
be at the yearly meeting there at Amsterdam, 
which is three -weeks after ours in London. 
And taking shipping at Harwich, we arrived 
safely at Rotterdam, where having visited 
friends, we passed together to Amsterdam, 



STEPHEN CRISP. 101 

where a pretty many friends from divers parts 
were come together ; and we had a precious 
and comfortable meeting, in the unity of the 
spirit, and in the bond of peace, which made 
our hearts glad, and tended to confirm the 
weak and feeble ones, and to the establishing 
the testimony of truth in the hearts of them 
that had believed in Christ Jesus. And my 
God gave me understanding to open the mys- 
teries of his kingdom, according to their 
capacities, to our mutual joy and refreshment. 
So our dear friends, and brethren, and sisters, 
departed to their several habitations and tes- 
timonies, to Dantzic, Holstein, Hamborough, 
and Friesland, &c. encouraged in the work 
of the Lord, and strengthened in the inward 
man. 

Soon after friends were departed, it pleased 
God to visit me again with a very sore fit of 
the Stone-collick, which brought me very low 
in the outward man ; and it continued so with 
me several weeks, with some small intermis- 
sions ; so I was wholly disabled of visiting the 
meetings at Haerlem, Alkmaer, and in Fries- 
land, &c. Continuing so weak, and finding 
myself clear, in the sixth Month, 1683, I set 
my face again homeward, and the Lord made 



102 THE LIFE OF 

my -way prosperous. And while I was upon 
the seas, I voided the stone that had so long 
been an exercise to me, and by the good hand 
of God I was brought home ; where in a short 
time, I had a greater exercise to be tried 
withal ; for it pleased the Lord to call away 
from me my dear wife, who had been indeed 
a meet help, and a faithful and loving wife to 
me, about five and thirty years, and had with 
a firm faith trusted in God, and had her eye 
to Him in all our sufferings, trials, and tribu- 
lations, and had seen before her departure 
how all had wrought for good unto us, and 
was satisfied in his will. And in this exercise 
I found the good hand of God bowing my 
spirit to his will; and I murmured not, but 
praised his holy Name, that had let her con- 
tinue so long with me, and had made her so 
great a comfort to me in all my afflictions. 
And hereby doth the Lord work, to the fitting 
and preparing of my spirit, to give up all 
things visible and mortal, that at last mor- 
tality may be swallowed up of life ; and that 
I, and all his dear people, may see this work 
perfected, is my earnest travail and labour. 

After my dear wife's departure, I found the 
Lord still with me, supporting me in his 



STEPHEN CRISP. 103 

blessed work which He had called me unto ; 
and my eye was unto Him to guide my way. 
And in the latter end of the year 1684, I 
received an opening in the truth, that the 
Lord would give me another wife, to be both 
a comfort and a careful nurse to me; but 
about the same time, I saw that the Lord had 
a service for me beyond the seas in the sum- 
mer coming. So I went first to London, and 
having stayed there the yearly meeting, and 
been consolated and refreshed by beholding 
the glory of God that from day to day ap- 
peared, and in beholding the love and unity 
that increased among the brethren, I then 
went over to Holland, accompanied with my 
dear friend, whom I had seen would be given 
me to wife, and divers other friends both of 
Holland and England; and the Lord pros- 
pered our way; and we came there to the 
yearly meeting, where we found the old enemy 
had been trying his old stratagems, to lay 
stumbling-blocks in the way of the weak, and 
had caused some to stumble and fall. A spirit 
of enmity had gotten up very high, and pre- 
tended that their matter should be heard at 
the yearly meeting ; and so it was, and the 
love of God wrought wonderfully for their 
restoration, which, after several days labour, 



104; THE LIFE OF 

was so far effected, that they with joy and 
thanksgiving came back, and laid by all their 
weapons of war and contention, and were 
again brought to a tenderness towards God 
and his people, to our mutual joy and re- 
joicing. 

While I was in Holland visiting the meet- 
ings there, I heard that a door was opened for 
the truth, in a little city in Friesland, called 
Mackum, which I had long desired; so I 
went thither, and preached the everlasting 
Gospel amongst them, where I was received 
with great kindness ; and the witness of God 
was reached in several, and a love raised to 
the truth, which in the Lord's time will bring 
forth good fruit. 

Then returning into Holland, and having 
cleared ourselves of what lay upon us there, we 
did in the sixth Month, 1685, return for Eng- 
land ; and in some time after, we signified to 
our friends and brethren what was in our hearts, 
in relation to marriage, which was approved 
of unanimously among them; and in the 
Lord's due time, which was upon the first of 
eighth Month, 1685, we took each other in 
marriage, and found the Lord with us in it, 



STEPHEN CRISP. 105 

blessing his own work ; and He hath indeed 
manifested, that we are of God's joining; and 
He hath made us a blessing in his hand one 
to another, and true yoke-fellows, both in 
respect of our own affairs, and in the affairs of 
his church and people. For all this, I find 
my soul engaged to speak good of his Name, 
to bless Him, and praise Him, and to say, 
with his servants of old, His mere?/ endures for 
ever,- for indeed she was a woman beyond 
many, excelling in the virtues of the Holy 
Spirit with which she was baptized ; as she 
shewed forth both in life and doctrine, which 
made her to be a sweet savour throughout the 
churches of Christ, and a pattern of patience 
and holiness, discharging her place as a tender 
and watchful mother to her children, and as a 
careful and loving wife to me. 

But alas ! as the greatest enjoyments of tem- 
poral blessings have their end, so it happened 
unto me ; for it proved the pleasure of the 
Lord to try me, whether I could part with, as 
well as receive this great mercy ; for in the 
beginning of the year 1687, she fell into 
bodily weakness, and continued so two or three 
months; and upon the ninth of the third 
Month, she slept with the faithful in the Lord, 



106 THE LIFE OP 

in a perfect resignation to his will, making at' 
blessed end, to my great joy and consolation: 
for although it was hard to flesh and blood to 
part with so precious a companion, and to be 
left alone in my old age, accompanied with 
many infirmities of body, yet the feeling of 
fellowship with her in the joy into which she 
is entered, gives me great satisfaction, know- 
ing well that her portion is with the righteous, 
and her eternal inheritance is amongst the 
just, where sorrow, snares, and temptations 
cannot come. 

After she was buried, I went up to London, 
and conversed among the brethren three 
months, where the Lord was pleased to bless 
my service unto many ; and I then returned 
to Colchester, where 1 continued great part of 
the winter following. In the year 1688, I 
went up again to London, and visited meet- 
ings thereabouts, as I found it upon me, and 
also some meetings at my return in Essex and 
Suffolk. 

About the eighth Month, I went again to 
London, and was there in the great revolution 
of government; and sometimes, as I was of 
ability of body, laboured with other friends. 



STEPHEN CRISP. 107 

"with the parliament that then sat in the year 
1689, to get those penal laws by which friends 
and others had suffered, to be suspended; 
and by the good hand of God an act was 
passed for that purpose, which hath proved 
greatly to the ease of tender consciences. 
And after the yearly meeting of friends in 
1689 was over, I returned again to my habita- 
tion, and continued there the whole winter, not 
being able to travel by coach as I had done, 
many infirmities growing upon me; yet I 
found daily renewing of strength in the 
inward man, and the word of the Lord lived 
in my heart, to the refreshing of my soul, and 
the souls of many tender babes that lived and 
grew by the milk of it; and in this is my fel- 
lowship with the living, and my labour, tra- 
vail, and prayer, that all may be kept in the 
feeling of it ; for this living word abideth for 
ever. 



After this, he spent his time mostly in Col- 
chester and London, in the service of truth, 
and finished this life the 28th day of the sixth 
Month, 1692. 



A REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



STEPHEN CRISP. 



The Works of Stephen Crisp were col- 
lected and printed in one volume, small 
Quarto, and are as follow, viz. 

No. l.«A Word of Reproof to the Teachers 
of the World" written in the year 1657. — 
9 pages. 

This Work is a strong invective against the 
system of the Hierarchy — against the perse- 
cuting and vicious character of many, who 
assumed the office of Christian Ministers— and 
against the doctrine which they upheld, of 
the impossibility of being preserved from sin 
in this life. 



110 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

No. 2. " A Description of the Church of 
Scotland, with a Word of Reproof to the 
Priests and Teachers, and Officers therein." 
tS;c. 1660. — 31 pages. 

Most of the complaints made against the 
English Church, in the former book, are made 
ngainst the Church of Scotland. Formality 
and a persecuting spirit, are strongly repre- 
hended ; and several doctrines which the Au- 
thor considered to be erroneous, are discussed 
at considerable length, and with a good deal 
of that asperity of feeling, which marked the 
polemical discussions cf that day, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. Ill 

No. 8. " A Letter to the Mayor of Col- 
chester." 1664. — 9 pages. 

No. 4. "Another Letter to the Mayor of 
Colchester" 1664. — 3 pages. 

These letters were written from the prison 
of Colchester, where the first states, that the 
Writer had been confined 48 weeks for his re- . 
ligious principles. The first letter appears to 
have been addressed to a Magistrate, who had 
just entered on his office. After pointing oat 
forcibly, the folly and injustice of attempting 
to coerce conscience, he thus addresses him in 
the conclusion of his letter. 

"Whereas it is now come to thy lot, to bear 
the burthen of government of this numerous 
people, I cannot but exhort thee to wait on 
God for wisdom how to go in and out before 
them, and to put on bowels of mercy and com- 
passion, and let not the weapons of cruelty be 
found in thy habitation, nor the devisings of 
mischief against the innocent, be found in thy 
heart : for if there be this, I tell thee, in the 
Name of the Lord, that all those devices shall 
fail, and not bring to pass the effect intended 
by them, and shall in the end leave a curse 



112 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and withering upon thy name, and a blasting 
upon thy blessings. 

"Thou art now the third Mayor in this town, 
since some of us were committed to prison, for 
no other thing than being at a peaceable 
meeting of the people of God. And one 
leaves them bound, and another leaves them 
bound ; and now it is the work that lies before 
thee, to unloose the unjust bonds of the inno- 
cent, and to ease and not aggravate the afflic- 
tions of the afflicted, which will be a work 
acceptable with the Lord. And in so doing, 
thou wilt, as thou oughtest to do, weaken the 
hands of the ungodly, and be a refreshing to 
the sober sort of people, who are weary of be- 
holding such grievous persecution, even such 
as suffer little of it. And this is the way 
wherein thou and thy house may be blessed. 
So I have cleared my conscience to thee in 
true love, and my reward is with the Lord ; 
and if my advice finds acceptance with thee, 
I have, as I said, my end. But, however, I 
am content in my portion, which is my inhe- 
ritance in life and immortality, with them that 
are sanctified through faith in Christ ; on the 
trial of which faith, I suffer bonds, and 
have done these 48 weeks, in the Moat-hall, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 113 

in Colchester ; -where I remain a lover of th y 
soul, a friend to just power, and obedient to 
all good and wholesome laws, but a witness 
against unrighteousness. 

"The 1st of the 8th 

Month, 1664. S. C. 1 ' 



The second letter is written in the same 
manlj and Christian strain. — It appears to 
have been addressed to the same Mayor ; and 
the greater part of the letter is contained in 
the following extract. 

"Such who are come to be fixed upon a 
principle of religion, which is certain and 
immutable, unto which the Scriptures of truth, 
and the testimony of their own conscience 
bear them witness, thou must not think that 
they can be so easily turned aside from that 
unto which they were so hardly, and with so 
much inward travail and labour, brought ; for 
many have known a goiDg through a vale of 
sorrow and tears, before we were thus esta- 
blished; and the testimony of our religion is 
not a light thing, that we took up at the plea- 
sure of man, and can lay down at the will and 
k3 



114 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

pleasure of man. Nay, it's not thy frowns 
nor threats, thy imprisonment nor amerce- 
ments that can deter us, nor weigh down the 
weight of that which is so weighty, that we 
can depend the safety of our immortal souls 
upon it, which is the weightiest matter of all. 

u And therefore, friend, consider in coolness, 
what a work thou hast lift up thy hand to do, 
and in what power thou dost it; and whether 
it be able to hold to the completing thy pur- 
pose, or nay. Did ever any tight against God 
and prosper? And did not the work of all 
persecutors prove fruitless, to the shame of 
them that have been exercised therein? 
Therefore cease thy works, and be still a 
little, and see if thou canst find out any mat- 
ter against us, except in the matter of our 
God. And if that be the matter, I tell thee, 
thou hast a people to deal withal in this town, 
whose God and worship is dearer to them 
than their natural lives: and if thou shouldst 
so shut them up, and deprive them of that 
comfort to their outward man, which God 
allows, and nature requires, as to bring any 
to the laying down their lives for their testi- 
mony, yet the thing thou strikest at, would 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 115 

still flourish more and more, and the assem- 
blies of them that fear the Lord, will yet 
daily increase ; and so thy purpose, and theirs 
that so much prompt thee on to this work, 
will be frustrated; and then anguish and 
vexation will begin to take hold on thee, and 
he that is thy greatest backer in this work, 
must stand by himself, and thou by thyself, 
and ye shall not be able to help one another, 
and he and thou will have a reckoning to make, 
that will be too heavy for you. 

"Friend, this, in true love to thy soul, was 
upon me from the Lord, to write to thee, and 
I do heartily desire it may be as tenderly re- 
ceived as it is written ; then will the effect be 
good to thee, which is the desire of me, who 
am thy friend, though thy prisoner. 

s. a" 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 117 

No. 5. " An Epistle to Friends concerning 
the Present and Succeeding Times." With a 
Postscript. 1666. — SO pages. 

This is a strong and affectionate exhortation, 
to those who were united with the Writer in 
religious fellowship. It calls their attention 
to the grounds of their union with each other, 
and of their separation from the world — to the 
temptations and difficulties to which they 
were peculiarly exposed — and to the fruits 
which were brought forth by those who were 
steadfast in their profession. In conclusion, it 
states the Writer's impression of further trou- 
bles which were coming upon England, and 
that the Lord's judgments would ere long shake 
a great part of what is called Christendom. 

He warns the Society, under such circum- 
stances, not to join themselves to any party, 
how much soever it might seem favourable to 
its views ; but to keep its dependence upon 
that Rock which all the shakings of the world 
could not move. 

The following extract from the early part 
of this epistle, will show the apostolic care 
which the Writer felt for the young Society. 



118 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" But you, O my friends ! who had fellow- 
ship with us in the deep travails of our begin- 
nings, and did come to Truth the same way, 
and have known the power and virtue of it, 
many times overcoming you in your inward 
man, which hath made you cry out, Lord, 
evermore give us of this Bread ; and hath 
made you as a watered garden — O Friends! 
how shall I express or signify unto you those 
longings, those ardent desires, and earnest 
breathings of my soul, that you, even you, 
might abide to the end of all trials, and tribu- 
lations, and adversities ; and might inherit 
that crown of immortality that is in Christ 
Jesus our Lord ; and might not by any means 
be bereft thereof. This is singly my travail in 
body and spirit, that you might be kept and 
preserved out of all the subtil snares of the 
w icked one, who hunts for the soul even of 
those that have believed. And therefore, in 
dear and tender love, 1 have a few things to 
write to you, for the clearing of my conscience, 
and discharging of my duty in the sight of the 
Lord ; and the Lord give you all a tender 
and an understanding heart, that both you and 
I may yet have cause daily to praise the Lord, 
inthe glorious light of his salvation, which He 
hath manifested among us, by the revealing of 



OF STEPHEN CIUSP. 119 

his Son Jesus Christ ; to whom belong domi- 
nion, honour, and glory, for ever. Amen. 

11 And first, dear Friends ! it is in my heart 
to put you in remembrance of that by which 
we were called and convinced, which as a 
foundation principle was laid in and among 
you ; and it being unchangeable and unalter- 
able in itself, doth therefore admit of no 
alteration or change in those that are rightly 
kept to it. 

" It was a light which arose in our hearts ; 
and shined forth from God, the Father of 
Lights, carrying in its appearance the nature 
and property of God, both in its condemning 
evil, which the enemy had sown or planted in 
us ; and owning, allowing, and justifying 
every thing that was good and honest, just 
and equal ; even those thoughts in our hearts, 
which were of turning towards the Lord, and 
seeking his righteousness. These thoughts 
were justified and encouraged by the Light, 
and all the contrary discovered and judged, as 
they were brought to it to be tried. 

" Now this Light did our souls rejoice in, 
as they had good cause, though it took away 



120 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

our former rejoicings. Our pleasure in va- 
nities and iniquity died ; our glory in this 
world withered ; our friendship with the sons 
of men decayed ; and we stood in the light, 
and saw all these things, and were not sorry 
at them, but waited daily to see these things 
more and more brought to pass : neither 
was there a permitting our thoughts to go out, 
how we might prevent those damages, or repair 
those losses; but the cross of Christ was in- 
deed our glorying or rejoicing ; and the hope 
that was before us, did make us despise the 
pleasures, treasures and honours, friendship 
and delights of this world. 

" And in those days, you grew into a feel- 
ing of the heavenly joy, where the hundred- 
fold was witnessed in your bosoms ; and the 
zeal of the Lord was kindled by his own 
Spirit in you, against whatsoever this light of 
Jesus in the conscience did witness against ; 
and the Lord beheld your integrity, and blessed 
you, and multiplied you, and added to your 
strength and stature. And then did the fruits of 
this glorious work abound among you, in three 
more general and special effects ; by which ef- 
fects, or by their continuance among you, let all 
now come to search and try themselves, that 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 121 

so, dear Friends, those that have continued 
faithful in them all, may persevere in like 
manner to the end. And those who upon true 
search do find that they have failed, and fallen 
short in all or any of them, may make haste 
to repent, and to turn to that which was the 
Root of them all, that they may not be found 
as fruitless and withered branches, in the day 
that cometh ; lest they be cut off, and utterly 
consumed, and blotted out from among the 
living branches of the Vine. For a day cometh, 
that Truth will look into the fig-tree for fruit, 
and leaves will not defend it from the curse 
and blasting. 

" The three especial fruits that did spring 
forth from this blessed Root, and were and 
are to continue and increase in us, and among 
us, to the end, are these : 

" 1. Purity, manifested in a godly conver- 
sation. 

" 2. Unit?/, manifested in dear and tender 
love one towards another. 

" 3. Faithfulness, manifested in bearing a 
constant and faithful testimony to the things 
we had received and believed, though it were 
unto great loss and suffering." 

L 



J22 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

This Epistle has been several times printed 
by itself, and is now in print. 



No. 6. U A Word in due Season, or some 
Harvest Meditations. 1666. — 6 pages. 

This tract extends a very severe reproof to 
the people, for the superstitious and riotous 
practices which generally obtained during 
harvest. It notices particularly the custom 
of shouting in the fields — the making of lords 
and ladies in harvest fields — and the singing 
of filthy and abominable songs. It warns also 
against inordinate eating and drinking — re- 
commends that the portion of the poor in the 
field should be remembered — and that, at the 
time of Harvest, when the people are taking 
in the fruit and increase of their fields, they 
should mind the fear of God, which would 
keep them in the remembrance of Him, 
from whom every good gift cometh ; that 
so it may be good to them, and they may 
receive it with humility and thankfulness : — 
none to murmur because it is no more, and 
none to glory because it is so much ; but all 
to be contented, and to mind that which lets 
them see the blessing. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 123 

No. 7. "A plain Path-way opened.'" 1668. 
— 23 pages. Written in the Ipswich County 
Jail. 

This work is stated, in the title page, to 
be for the answering all doubts and objections 
which do arise against the Light and Truth 
in the inward parts, &c. &c. 

It is a practical address to the simple hearted 
Christian ; and, appealing at once to the expe- 
rience of such, in regard to that Light which 
manifests to their minds what is right and 
wrong, recommends an experimental ac- 
quaintance with its leadings, as the best an- 
swer to all the doubts, objections, and cavils 
which had been raised respecting it. 

Even those who do not exactly agree with 
the author, will, I think, be constrained to 
acknowledge, that there is much to admire in 
the pious and affectionate earnestness of the 
following passages; 

a All you that have been hurried and 

tossed with doubts and questionings about 

the Truth, come, hearken to the counsel of 

God at this time, once more sounded forth 

l 2 



124 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

unto you from his Spirit, by a servant of Ills 
without you, and answered by the measure of 
his good Spirit within you, which hath the 
same voice and cry in you, for obedience to 
what is made manifest of God in you. Obey 
the Light, and thou shalt see daily more of it, 
till it breaks forth as a morning unto thee, and 
till it shines unto a perfect day ; yea, a day of 
gladness and rejoicing to thy poor distressed 
soul. 

O! arise, thou that sittest sorrowing, and 
thou that art crying out in secret, because of 
the bonds and fetters that arc yet upon thee ; 
arise, arise, I say, in the name of the Lord 
God of Sion, who draws nigh to thee by his 
quickening Spirit; and hearken to his voice, 
who saith to the prisoner, Come forth; and 
to the bowed down, Arise; and to the feeble 
ones : Put on strength, and follow me, and 
obey me; I will confound your foes, and 
break the strength of your enemies. As I 
have done for my people, who have forsaken 
all to follow me, and obey me, so will I do for 
you. And if ye in uprightness walk before 
me, and keep my covenant, as they have done, 
no power or strength of the enemy, within or 
without, shall be too hard for you. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 125 

And when the Lord doth thus arise in your 
souls, and stir up his pure witness — when his 
arm awakens in you, and his pure Light 
breaks forth ; O ! what consolation is it to 
you; and how have many of you seen your 
vain doubtings expelled ; and a clear con- 
vincement hath prevailed upon your spirits 
concerning the way of God. At such a time, 
you have begun to resolve to follow the Lord 
in his pure way of holiness, thus opened to 
you in the Light, though to the loss of all ; 
and though it be to the bearing of your part 
of the great reproach, that lies upon them that 
love Him more than their lives. And at such 
a time there was felt a secret joy, in a hidden 
ground, in your souls and the seed of the 
kingdom that had been long buried, began to 
spring up in you; in which seed your souls 
felt some touchings of that heavenly life and 
joy, which, for the time, exceeded all things 
that this world could afford. 

And whensoever you come to feel this re- 
freshing dew upon your souls, then take heed 
and wait singly in the sense of it; keep your 
eye to the joy that is now set before you in 
Christ Jesus, the seed; for if you lat your 
minds wander, and your eyes gad abroad, 
l 3 



126 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

there will be objects on every hand to lead 
you out from your soul's beloved, and to bring 
you to defile your hearts, and make yourselves 
an unfit place of residence for Him who is 
holy and pure, and "who will not dwell nor 
take delight in a polluted temple; but will 
withdraw Himself, as He did from Israel of 
old, and from their temple, when it was pol- 
luted and profaned. 

"And besides, when your minds are taken 
hold of, by any of the corruptible things of this 
changeable world, there will presently kindle 
a desiring, longing, and lusting after the enjoy- 
ment of those things, though contrary to the 
will of God; and then, next, the reasoner and 
consulter gets' up in thee, and starts a ques- 
tion — May not I enjoy the Lord and this? 
May not I keep in the way of truth, and yet 
do this or that thing which my heart desireth ? 
And though it be not perfectly according to 
the truth made manifest in me, yet I will have 
my will, my lust, my desire satisfied but this 
one time, and that is not much, saith the con- 
sulter ; and this is but a small matter, there are 
others that do greater things than this. 

e Such like reasonings enter the mind) and 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 127 

yielding to tbem grieves and vexethtbat good 
and righteous, tender Spirit that moved in 
thee, and brings a weight and oppression upon 
the pure in thee; and that withdraws itself 
again from thee, in which thy light did arise 
unto thee ; and so a night comes upon thee. 
For where the serpent can bring any to make 
a question of obeying the truth, he is as ready- 
to frame an answer, as to beget the question. 
But his answer always comes with a liberty 
and persuasion to disobey, as it did to Eve in 
the beginning. And when, transgression is 
finished, then death enters upon thee with its 
dark power, and manifold sorrows pierce 
thy poor soul. Though the fruit was desira- 
ble to be eaten, yet now it is eaten, thou canst 
not come at life, to eat of that too, though 
thou desirest it ; but art driven out, and kept 
out with a Jlaming sword that turns everyway 
against thee. 

" And here is now a ground laid for doubts 
and questionings of a higher nature than be- 
fore, to arise in thee ; for before thou doubtedst 
of the Truth itself, whether it were the Truth ; 
but now, having tasted of it, and received a 
convincement of it, and yet let forth thy mind 
from it, after other lovers, and thy ears after 



128 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

the voice of the adultress, and so caused the 
pure light to withdraw from thee, through thy 
rebellion. Now thou desirest thou mightest but 
see again what thou hadst seen, and feel again 
what thou hadst felt; but thou hast doubts and 
fears that thou slialt never see, nor feel, nor 
enjoy the like again. And now thou wishest, 
O, that thou hadst stood in the cross to thy 
own will, and that thou hadst denied thy- 
self, that thou mightest not thus have lost the 
sight and sense of thy soul's beloved! And 
now thou seest by woeful experience, whence 
doubts and fears, and sorrows do arise ; even 
from thy joining with the enemy, who brings 
forth reasons against the obedience to the 



" And therefore now hearken to that which 
remains in thee. Though darkness and sor- 
row do encompass thee, yet there is something 
remains which gives thee a sense of thy state 
and condition, and makes thee to know thy 
loss and want. Hear the voice of this, and 
this will humble thee, and bring thee into true 
brokenness of heart, and contritedness of 
spirit ; and as thou comest to know that state, 
then thou hast something to offer to the Lord 
of his own preparing, which will be far more 



OF STEPHEN CRISP, 120 

acceptable to Him, than a multitude of words, 
and performances, and duties, so called. And 
as thou, in the true lowliness of mind, dost 
come before the Lord, and ofFerest up this 
offering, God will hear in heaven, and will 
answer the cry of the poor and needy soul that 
cannot be satisfied without his presence ; and 
He will remember his mercies of old, which 
never fail, for his Seed's sake, which is not yet 
brought forth in thee. 

" And when God doth again shine forth 
unto thee, and make his power known, thou 
must expect it to be in j udgment, because of the 
transgression thou hast gone into, that He may 
consume that in thee, which led thee into sin 
from his pure law, which is light; for Zion is 
redeemed by judgment. And therefore take 
heed lest thou be offended at his appearance ; 
take heed that thou limit not the Holy One; 
but, if his appearance be with more sharpness 
and bitterness to the carnal part than before, 
it is but just it should be so : It is the Lord ; 
let Him do what He will. He sees more cause 
now than before, by how much more thou hast 
sinned against his goodness ; but bow to his 
judgments : Bear his indignation, as Micah 
said, because thou hast sinned against Him*-** 



ISO REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Micah, vii. 9. And as thou yieldest to his 
righteous judgment, thou wilt know the com- 
ing to the midst of them, in which, the mercy 
is remembered and made manifest. 

"And therefore the hasty and impatient) 
that fly the judgment as soon as it begins a 
little to appear in them, they never find the 
true deliverance ; but get ease another way, 
which lasteth but for a moment. But they who 
come to know a thorough work wrought in 
their earth, and the floor thoroughly purged, 
they come to know the true and lasting peace 
to their immortal souls. And although this is 
not obtained by ease and liberty to the carnal 
mind, which must die, yet the end crowns all 
that hold out to it; they are the saved ones, 
as Christ said, Mark xiii. 23. And they find 
the returning with sheaves, as the Prophet 
said, Psalm cxxvi. 5, 6 : — They that sow in 
tears, shall reap in joy. They went forth, said 
he, with weeping, and bearing precious seed, 
but they shall return with joy, and bring 
their sheaves. And as Christ said : They that 
forsake father and mother, wife and children, 
house or lands, yea, or their own lives, for 
my sake, shall have a hundred-fold in this time, 
and in the world to come, life everlasting. For* 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. IS1 

saking and self-denial hath always been the 
way to life, and to true blessedness; and is the 
way unto this day. 

" Therefore lay aside all consultations that 
are against thy obedience to the gift of God 
in thy heart, which reproves sin in thee ; and 
give not way to vain and needless doubts about 
it; but as thou findest that thou hast been 
condemned and judged in thy disobeying of 
it, now try and prove whether, by taking up 
thy daily cross, and obeying it in thy words 
and actions, and in all things, thou dost 
not find the answer of sweet peace and joy. — 
And when thou shalt find it so, then will there 
be no more room for doubts and questionings 
against thy obeying of it ; but as any questions 
or doubts do arise in thee, or shall be cast in 
thy way by any without thee, thou wilt feel 
the answer of it in thyself to thy refreshing: 
and so thou wilt come to witness the effectual 
operation of it daily in thy soul, to work thy 
change and translation out of thyself, into it- 
self; and so thou wilt come, not only to know 
the light in thee, (for that one may do and pe- 
rish, For this is the condemnation, that light 
is come, and not loved,) but thou wilt know that 
thou art in the light, and walkest there with 



132 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

God, and in the holy fellowship, where thou 
feelest the Lord near thee in his light ; and 
his reward is with Him. 

" And so coming to walk and dwell in the 
light, thy conversation is now in heaven, as 
the saints' of old was ; and thy unity is wit- 
nessed with the Father and the Son, as theirs 
was, who said : If zee walk' in the light, as He 
is in the light, we have fellow ship with Him ; 
but if any said they had fellowship, and walked 
in darkness, (which all sinners do, for sin is 
the work of it,) such, they said, were liars. 
And such as walk in the light, as He is in the 
light, such come to know the blood that 
cleanseth and washeth from sin, and from all 
unrighteousness. And such as feel this work 
wrought in them, are brought into such a 
knowledge of the blood of Christ, that they 
need not doubt about it, nor have the occasion 
to raise a question where it is, or what it is, or 
what the efficacy of it is ; for having the work 
and witness of the blood in them, this forth- 
with resolves all doubts that would arise. 

"And so likewise, those that come to know 
the light in all things to be their guide, to 
lead out of darkness, and sin, and imperfections, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 133 

and to bring into the innocent and blameless 
conversation which becometh saints; and so 
come to know their footsteps directed before 
the Lord ; such have done doubting and ques- 
tioning about perfection ; for such see that 
which is perfect to be come, and they, from 
the belief which they have of attaining it, are 
labouring to conform themselves unto that 
rule, and endeavouring after it: not as the 
carnal professors, who say they labour after a 
conquest over their sins, with a belief they 
shall never attain it while they live ; but they 
so run that they may attain ; and they have 
the true hope in them, which they that have, 
are purifying themselves, as He is pure. 
That is their hope, as John said: He that 
hath this hope in him, purifieth himself as 
God is pure ; that so, even as He was in this 
present world, so they may be also. And so 
here the substance will come, and will cause 
the shadow to flee, and will answer all thy 
doubts and questions far beyond what argu- 
ments can do. 

"And when thou comest to know this state, 
and to receive the white stone that hath the 
name within, thou wilt then be without doubt 
or fear, given up in the will to God, to do and 

M 



131 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



to suffer all things, according to his blessed 
will. And here is the true and perfect rest to 
thy soul, whoever thou art, that art now labour- 
ing in the iron furnace of thy own thoughts 
and doubts, in which the more thou givest 
thyself up thereto, the darker thou art, and 
the fuller of doubts; for they will beget and 
multiply one another : and the more thou rea- 
soncst against obeying God's witness in thy 
heart, the less able thou art to obey it; but the 
little strength that God gives thee, thou con- 
sultest it away ; and, then, when thou wouldst 
be strong, thou becomest feeble ; and when 
thou wouldst in some measure obey, thy own 
consultations stand in the way, and hinder 
thee; and the more thou increasest in know- 
ledge in this state, the more thou increasest 
thy sorrow and condemnation ; so that some- 
times thou art ready to wish thou hadsi never 
known so much of Truth." 

"O! how my soul pities you whose state 
this is ; arsd I have a great sympathy with 
your sorrows ; and in bowels of tender love am 
I drawn forth to reach out a hand to help 
you, as one that hath obtained mercy to know 
deliverances, and to witness the way of it; and 
have the testimony of God in my heart, to 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 133 

witness forth the coming of the Saviour to the 
poor and needy souls, to the relieving of them, 
and comforting of them. And my soul's desire 
is, that your bonds might be broken, and your 
souls might escape. But this I say, in the 
name of the Lord, to you all, there is no way 
for your deliverance, but each of you giving 
up in single obedience to that faithful and true 
witness of God which stirs and moves in thee 
against thy sins. And therefore wait thou 
to feel thy mind and will subjected there- 
unto, that thou mayest feel thyself to be one 
of those willing people in this the day of 
God's power; and cease from thy reasonings 
against thy obeying the truth, and from say- 
ing thou canst not, thou wantest power, and 
when God gives thee grace, then thou wilt 
obey. These sayings are in vain : for though 
it is true that none can obey the Lord but by 
his grace and power given unto them, yet 
He hath made his grace, even that which 
bringeth salvation, to appear unto all men, as 
in Titus ii. 11; and it hath appeared unto 
thee, and in thee to whom I write, and is a 
reprover in thee ; and thou must turn to that 
which smites thee, and then thou turncst to 
the grace of God; for it is his grace that 
strives with thee, to lead thee out of the evil 
m 2 



136 REVIEW OF THE WOIUtS 

that it reproves in thee, and so out of the 
world that lies in the evil, up to God from 
whence the grace cometh. For whosoever 
do give up to the drawings of the good 
spirit of God that moves in them, and in obe- 
dience thereto do deny themselves of their 
own wills, and lusts, and evil desires and 
pleasures, such want not power, but feel Him 
near to them who works the willingness first, 
and then the deed according to his pleasure j 
and so the glory comes alone to be His. 

"And then thou knowest the mystery of the 
cross, and how it is the power of God, which 
all that reject the cross, complain for want of. 
And so, as long as thou livest in the cross, 
thou livest in the power, and thy obeying 
is easy, and all things are possible to thee 
through it; and as long as thou art daily 
dying to that which is corruptible, thou feelest 
the more life, and joy, and pleasure in that 
which is everlasting; and thy desires grow 
more and more fervent, after a full and perfect 
enjoyment of it in the pure unity of spirit. 

"And those desires growing strong in thee, 
it grows a lighter thing to thee to part with 
that which hinders, though it be thy bosom 



OF STEPHEN CEISP. 13.7 

sin : thy Dalilahs and darlings, all must go, 
for the love thou hast to Truth. And such 
only as have this love, and continue in it, are 
counted worthy to be heirs of the kingdom of 
God; for so long as any thing is hugged 
and loved besides the Lord, if the Lord sho Id 
manifest his love to thee, thou wouldst play 
the harlot, and abuse his mercies, and cleave 
to thy old lovers, as Israel of old did, that 
were after the flesh. 

" And therefore think it not strange to be 
brought through manifold trials, that thereby 
thou mayst be purged, and prepared as a 
bride, for the true Husband, Christ Jesus ; for 
there are many that desire acquaintance witli 
Him, but are not fitted for Him. They must 
be washed first, and trimmed first, and must 
put off the vile raiment first, and must come 
to know the white linen put on; and while 
this work is doing, what need of patience and 
quietness of spirit is there ! what need of sub- 
jection to the workings of that Holy Spirit 
in all things ! that thou mayst not be setting 
limits and bounds to that which must bound 
and limit thee in all things ; nor say in thine 
heart, If my trials were but so, or my exercises 
so or so, I could then bear them ; but rather 
m 3 



138 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

submit, ill all things, willingly to do and suf- 
fer, and to be tried and exercised, even as it 
pleases the Lord to order, or suffer thee to be 
tried : and in all his dealings, say with the 
good man, It is the Lord, let Him do what 
He will with thee. 

"And whosoever give up thus to Him, 
though He slay them, yet shall they live; 
though He wound them, yet He will [heal 
them again. Therefore, learn patience and 
stillness of mind ; for by taking thought, thou 
canst add nothing in this work." 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 139 

No. 8. A Backslider Reproved, and his Folly 



This is a controversial Tract in answer to a 
book written by one Robert Cobbet, who had 
formerly been a member of the Society, and 
"who, having left it, controverted the doctrine 
of the Light of Christ. 

Crisp certainly treats his opponent with 
very little ceremony, and points out his in- 
consistencies and contradictions in that acri- 
monious style, which marked too much the 
controversial writings of good men at that 
period. The following extract from the 
opening of the book may suffice as a specimen. 

" It is not a new nor strange thing, to see 
the old enemy of the Light, viz. the prince of 
darkness, to be diligent in raising up as high 
mountains and towers as he can, to keep it 
from shining ; and as he can bring forth no 
evil to man of himself, without some instru- 
ment into which he gets an entrance, therefore 
he is diligent in persuading and tempting 
from the Light, even those that have seen the 
appearance of it, and not become so subject 
to it as they should have been; whose foolish 



140 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

hearts be darkens, and fills their minds with 
vain imaginations; and then are they choice 
instruments for his purpose, as bearing some- 
thing more of his image (who himself abode 
not in the Truth) than others. 

"And such as these he always spurred on 
in a blind zeal against the Light, as that which 
was most destructive to his and their works 
of darkness. And among this sort of instru- 
ments, here is one Robert Cobbet, hath pre- 
sented himself as an enemy to the doctrine of 
the Light, though he is indeed but as one of 
the meanest and shatteredest of that camp, and 
hath attained to but a small measure of that 
subtilty which this father and prince of dark- 
ness doth use to furnish his children withal, 
that are capable to receive it. But however, 
what he hath, or thinketh he hath, he hath 
adventured to present to public view; though 
indeed it is as a rod for his own chastisement. 
And I heartily wish there may be so much 
sense left in him, that he may feel the smart 
of it, and may amend, and leave off his folly 
and blind zeal, and submit to that which com- 
prehends him, his spirit, and works. For I 
knew a time when he could not have believed, 
that he should have been led to such a depth 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 141 

of confusion, in opposing the Light, as now he 
is; though he was never faithful to it as he 
ought, but sought, in his fallen, corruptible 
wisdom, to have comprehended it; but 1 desire 
he may yet see a death upon that which hath, 
unto this day, kept his soul in death and dark- 
ness. And in oider thereunto, and for the 
Truth's sake, I have written these few lines, 
briefly to shew him and others his confusions, 
contradictions, and absurdities; or at least a 
few of those many which he hath uttered, and 
printed in his book, called, A Word to the 
Upright, Sj-c. 

"And therefore, Reader, take notice, that 
after his book called God's Truth attested, 
was made public, and something was written 
in answer thereto, shewing him how he con- 
tradicted himself and the Scriptures too ; in 
a seeming reply thereto, he published this, 
called, 'A Word to the Upright,' which, he 
saith, 'is to establish them in these erring 
days, and to keep the young sprouts of the 
nation from corruption in opinion;' which, 
whether R. C. hath written a piece that is 
likely to prove an establishing of the upright 
from error, or to prevent the young sprouts 
from corruption in principle or opinion, will 



142 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

more appear anon to the considerate reader, 
when he hath rightly weighed the conse- 
quences of letting in all his doctrines for 
Truth, whether it will not render them more 
like to distracted men, than principal Chris- 
tians." 

I cannot but regret that the good man 
ever dipped his pen in the ink of controversy, 
at a period in which the extreme difficulty 
of conducting it in a truly Christian spirit, 
reigned in full power. 



No. 9. Ci A Letter from Germany to Friends, 
exhorting them to diligence in Meetings" — 
1669. — 4 pages. 

This is a short, lively exhortation, evincing 
the Writer's care over his Friends at home, 
when absent from them. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 143 

No. 10. " A Word of Exhortation, and a 
Sound of glad Tidings to all the Mourners in 
Germany, and the parts adjacent.'''' No date. — 
12 pages. 

This is an affectionate and practical address 
to the com^erts in Germany, &c. amongst 
•whom the Writer so often laboured. 

He thus presses upon them the neceisity 
of Christians abstaining from all sin. 

" Now God hath appointed the death of 
every sin and lust that liveth in your souls, 
and hath appointed his Son Christ Jesus to be 
the killer and destroyer thereof. And He 
cometh to the earthly parts, not with peace, 
but with a sword ; and when ye feel it cutting 
off your pleasures, your delights, your worldly 
friendships and fellowships, yea, your hope 
and confidence, which stood on a sinful ground, 
or a ground where sin also stood, you must 
not be offended thereat, but wait in humility 
to feel that you are the slain of the Lord, 
which the prophet said should be many, in 
his great and notable day. And fear not, for 
He that kills you to what is old, shall raise 



144 REVIEW OP THE WORKS 

you up in Ihe new life of righteousness, that 
never waxeth old. 

u For as it ariseth in the particular, to rule 
the whole man in the fear and pure wisdom of 
God, that man ceaseth to act of himself, or 
speak of himself, and is brought to wait upon 
the good Spirit of God, to know what to do 
and say, as the hand-maid upon the hand of 
her mistress. And such the pure Spirit keeps 
in a pure conversation without sin, for no man 
by the Spirit of God is led into sin. And if 
any come to live in this pure, sinless conversa- 
tion, this differs from the sinful world, and so 
shines over the world, and brings a night upon 
their glory ; for this shining and beauty of ho- 
liness, is answered by the measure of the grace 
of God in all consciences where it shines : and 
so, many come to be gathered to the brightness 
of the arising of this righteousness, and be- 
come subject to the love of it. And so shall 
the borders of its garment be daily enlarged ; 
and the borders of the possession of the wicked 
one shall be daily lessened ; and the seed of 
God shall possess the gates of his enemies, 
according to his promise of old made by his 
holy prophets. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 145 

"And now, Friends, consider the place where 
this alteration is to be wrought, where the 
kingdom of the man of sin is to be destroyed, 
and where the kingdom of Christ is to be set 
up. It is within you that this great change 
is to be wrought ; and a great power must be 
felt to work it; for, in this case, in vain is the 
help of man, without the Power of God. 
Therefore that which leads to the knowledge 
of the power, you must come to love and to 
obey, which is the Light of Jesus Christ in 
your consciences, wherewith Christ Jesus, the 
free gift of the Father, hath enlightened every 
one that cometh into the world ; which Light 
doth discover to the soul, when the dark power 
doth begin to stir and operate, to lead into 
evil. And those that love the Light better than 
their lasts, they come to take up the cross to 
the lust, whatsoever it may be ; and, standing 
faithful in the cross and denial of themselves, 
they come to witness what the apostle said : 
The cross of Christ is the Power of God, 
through faith, unto salvation. 

" And then when this cross is thus taken up, 
and self thus denied ; then that soul is not 
without the Power of God, which is the ground 
of their faith. And the more they are herein 

N 



146 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

subjected, the more power they have, and the 
more cloth their faith increase ; and, being 
obedient to the light of Jesus, the faithful and 
true Witness of God, they feel peace and en- 
couragement ; and a living hope doth sustain 
such, as cast an anchor, till God makes a per- 
fect work on their hearts. And here will arise 
the great difference between your hope and 
the hope of the hypocritical world : they hope 
to be set free from the condemnation due upon 
sin ; but you will hope and wait to be set 
free from sin itself, which is the cause of con- 
demnation and to be redeemed out of evil, 
into the life of inuocency, that was before 
sin was." 



No. 11. " An Epistle from S. Crisp, to 
Friends in Colchester.'''' No date.— 4 pages. 

This is an earnest exhortation to his Friends, 
to keep steadfast to their principles. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 147 

No. 12. « An Amioer of S. Crisp to T. 
JLoddington." No dale. — 9 pages. 

This tract appears to have been written in 
reply to some remarks of the person to whom 
it is addressed, in conversations or letters 
which had passed between them. 

S. Crisp thus expresses himself on some im- 
portant points of doctrine : 

" I never said faith was a thing separate 
from reason ; that is but thy own false sugges- 
tion ; for we do desire that all who have 
received of the like precious faith with us, 
may be ready to give a reason of it to him 
that asks it, as I shall be ready to do to thee 
or any man, when asked thereof. In the mean 
time, this is my testimony, that as man stands 
in the fall, simply considered, as a vassal and 
servant of the wicked one; in that state, his 
reason, will, and understandings, are all cor- 
rupted : and his affections are vile, and he an 
enemy to God and Christ:— and, in that state, 
he cannot see or understand the way of sal- 
vation, nor the true reason of it, nor per- 
ceive how it is according to the nature of 
God; but, with that reason, judgment, and 
n 2 



M8 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

will, he will strike at the appearance of the 
true wny of salvation, as the wise of this world 
ever did ; and as thou, according to the hard- 
res. of tby heart, art still doing. But the 
light hath always broken forth another way, 
than their reason hath taught them to expect, 
and so they were left in darkness, still groping 
for the way, and changing and turning this 
w.iy and that way, while others entered into 
the kingdom, and they were shut out; which 
is very near to be thy portion. 

"Wherefore, friend, we say, that before the 
way of the Lord can be acceptable to a man, 
that is, before a man can receive that measure 
of faith which God hath offered unto all men, 
in that He hath raised up Jesus from the dead, 
lie must know that of God in Him, to en- 
lighten or clear his understanding, and to 
rectify his reason, and reduce it from the 
dark grossness in which he hath been ready 
t3 call evil good, and good evil ; and yet used 
his reason, as it was, to maintain this his 
opinion. And as this enlightening principle 
of God is known to work in him, and he is 
giving up his will and judgment unto the 
manifestation of the Light, then his reason 
conies to be rectified, or reduced to its origi 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 149 

nal principle of pure equity, in which lie 
seeth that his reasonable sacrifice and service 
to God, is to give up all that L he hath to the 
Lord ; and thereupon he comes to wait for the 
gift of his Spirit, to order him and his affairs? 
that now he may live to God, and not to him- 
self any longer. 

"And when he comes to feel the gift of 
God's Holy Spirit, working upon his spirit, 
then thereby he hath a right understanding of 
his duty, and believes that to be the will or 
God ; and, so believing, this belief or faith 
working in him by love, he becomes obedient : 
and this kind of faith, though it be separate 
from the corrupt reason of the world, that lies 
in wickedness, yet is not separate from the 
reason of an enlightened understanding, which, 
through faith, doth receive a perfect evidence 
of things which are not seen, and the sul>» 
stance of things that are hoped for." 

il And whereas thou hast fallaciously insin- 
uated in thy paper, that I had denied the 
Ascension of Christ, the Resurrection of the 
dead, General Judgment,- these I turnback 
again as falsehoods upon thy own headt some 
of which are also wilful, because I testified s* 



150 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

far as I was required unto these things; espe- 
cially unto that about the Resurrection : to 
which I said, I did believe, that all both good 
and evil, must have, or know, a day of resur- 
rection. But if thou wilt not be satisfied with 
a Scripture-like confession, but wilt be still 
pressing to know with what body the dead 
should rise ; then I say, concerning thy carnal 
imagination of a body : Thou sowest not now, 
that which shall be; what body shall be, 
shall be as pleaseth God; and none knoweth 
what that is, but He who knows the seeds that 
must receive their own bodies from God. Go 
learn what that means. 

"And as to a General Judgment, I did ex- 
press my mind, that God had appointed a 
day in which He would judge the world by 
the man Christ Jesus; whom He hath made 
the Judge both of the quick and dead; and 
I warned thee to take heed, that, in that day, 
thou mightest have a name and a place among 
the righteous: and now I do again exhort 
thee to believe the least appearance of his 
Light that now is, as well as is to come; for it 
is by the Light that the works of darkness 
shall be judged in that day, and so are they 
now ; and this judgment of the Light the righ- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 151 

teouslove; but the wicked and the rebellious 
come not to it, but reject it." 



No. 13. " An Epistle from S. Crisp to 
Friends ." no date. — 6 pages. 

This tract marks the continuance of that 
Gospel love for the Church, and care over if, 
for which the writer was so remarkable. It is 
written in a fervid style, and with a sort of 
apostolical authority. It directs that copies 
of it be fairly written, and sent forth among 
Friends in the East and North Ridings of 
Yorkshire, to be read in their meetings. It 
thus concludes : 

"And this further, brethren, is in my heart 
to signify unto you, that your joy may be 
full, that, since my coming southward, I have 
seen the prosperity of truth ; and the people 
that God hath made willing, in this the day 
of his power, are many. Glory be to the Lord 
God of Zion, who turneth her captivity, and 
restoreth again her inhabitants from far ! And 
Truth hath a good savour in these parts; and 
Friends are kept fresh and living ; and many 



152 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

in a readiness to go out in the Lamb's warfare, 
to overcome violence with patience, and the 
force of the enemy with faith, and to wait for 
their saving through suffering; and they feel 
the Rock that upholds, and the Anchor that 
stays their souls, which hath never failed us, 
nor ever will; but will last until adversity 
cease, and tribulation come to an end, and 
sorrows be no more; yea, until the kingdom 
of our Lord be over all the kingdoms of the 
earth, and his Name over every name, in 
•Khich is your strength, and the strength of 
your dear friend and brother, in the kingdom, 
life, and patience of the Lamb, and holy seed." 



No. 14. John Furley^s Translation of two 
of S. Crisp's Epistles, in Dutch, to Friends at 
Amsterdam." 1G67. — 5 pages. 

These are Epistles of general exhortation,, 
aud are directed to be read in the meetings. 



OF STEPHEN CRI&P* 153 

No. 15. "An Epistle of S. Crisp to Friends 
against such as cry out against the Form of 
Godliness, as against meeting at set times, on 
First days, #c." No date. — 6 pages. Placed 
in the Works between 1669 and 1672. 

The schism which prevailed in the Society 
about this time and to which this letter alludes, 
was for a time the source of great uneasiness ; 
and few persons laboured more earnestly by 
word and by letter to stop its baneful progress, 
than S. Crisp. In this Epistle, he contents 
himself with reminding friends of the concord, 
love, and peace, which had been felt amongst 
them, whilst they continued to be humble fol- 
lowers of the Truth. 

Towards the conclusion of the letter, he 
thus expresses himself. 

"Dear friends, the Lord knows the integYily 
of my soul, and true love to you ; and that for 
his glorious truth's sake, and for your sakes, I 
write these things to you. O ! receive my 
advice, hearken and hear, and let all self-wil- 
ledness be borne down by the meek Lamb's 
power, for it is that which gives life, and 
restores, and heals and makes up breaches." 



154r REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

"Therefore lend not 
you, unto that in any, or in yourselves, that 
would, under pretence of formality in times 
and places, draw you aside from the good 
and blessed testimony of assembling your- 
selves together, to wait upon your God. And 
what there is in any of you, that would not 
condescend unto each other as brethren, is 
not of the nature of the true birth; but must 
by it be subdued. And as that ariseth and 
prevails in and among you, so will you again 
feel the Lord ministering to his own in you ; 
and your eyes will be open to see the wiles of 
our subtle adversary more clearly, though he 
may appear masked, with a show of more 
holiness, with a promise of a further glory, 
higher dispensations, new discoveries, yea, 
and with a pretence of leading out of for- 
mality into the power ; and many such like 
baits and snares. My dearly beloved, beware 
of such pretences, for he comes but to bring 
you into a disesteem of what you have re- 
ceived, and to draw forth the expectation 
after something else; that so you might be 
robbed and spoiled of your portion; and then, 
when you come to a want in yourselves, 
having lost the former, and missing the latter, 
you will be tempted to end in the earth ; and 
the latter end of such is worst of alU" 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 155 

No. 16. "An Alarm sounded in the Bor- 
ders of Spiritual Egypt." 1672. — 34 pages. 

The great object of this work, which may, 
I think, be considered as the principal work 
of the author, is to support the doctrine of the 
possibility and duty of Christians abstaining 
from sin. The holding of this doctrine by 
the Society, appears to have been the occasion 
of much opposition, from many of the minis- 
ters of religion of that day. Crisp considered 
the views of his opponents as an apology for 
sin — as lowering the standard of Christian re- 
requirements, to the practice of those who 
wished to be, at the same time, of the world 
and of Christ — to serve God and Mammon. 
He and his friends held the necessity of an en- 
tire devotion to religion. Every thing with 
them was to be made subservient to the one 
great end; and this in the strictest sense. 
They allowed no considerations of expediency 
to modify their rule or qualify their obedience 
— they believed that those who were thus de- 
voted to God, were under the sensible guidance 
of his Spirit, and were thus led into an entire 
conformity to his will. They held, however, 
that this entire conformity did not require 
an abandonment of the world ; but that the 



156 IIEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

world was the allotted scene of Christian con- 
flict. They were aware, that to support this 
state, required a constant watchfulness. — And 
as they attributed every good thought, and 
the power for every good word and work, to 
the operation of the Divine Spirit, no per- 
sons were more free from boasting of their 
performances, or more sensible of the great 
Scriptural truth, that of themselves they 
could do nothing — that to them, as men, 
belonged indeed blushing and confusion of 
face ; and that it was on Grace, and not 
on Works, that their hopes for salvation 
rested : even on that Grace by which the 
blood of Jesus was shed for sinners — by which 
He ever liveth to make intercession for us — 
and by which the Holy Spirit is given, to 
guide us into good and acceptable works, to 
strengthen us to perform them, and to console 
us under temptations and trials. 

They held that a principal object of the 
coming of Christ, was to redeem man from 
the power of sin in this life ; and so to restore 
him to the image of God, which had been 
lost by the Fall. They thought that the im- 
portant Scripture doctrine of the purifying 
operation of Christ's Spirit on the heart, was 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 157 

too generally neglected, and that many were 
resting in the outward Sacrifice of Christ, 
without experiencing that washing and sancti- 
fication, of which the apostle speaks in writing 
to the Corinthians, and without which, under 
the figure of being born again, our Saviour ex- 
pressly declares, we cannot enter into the king- 
dom of heaven. They held that those who had 
thus "put off the old man with his deeds, and 
had put on the new man which is renewed in 
knowledge, after the image of Him who creat- 
ed him," were in a state acceptable to God 
through Jesus Christ; that this state of accep- 
tableness might be continued in, and all sin 
resisted through the aid of the Holy Spirit, 
whilst man continued watchful. Nevertheless, 
they admitted that this state of abstinence from 
sin, was compatible with the liability to fall, 
and also with a growth in the knowledge 
and love of God; — that there was the state 
of a child, as well as that of tEe full stature 
of the man, in Christ Jesus. Yet, so long as 
obedience kept pace with knowledge, they 
held the state to be acceptable, and in one 
sense perfect ; as an infant may be said to be 
perfect, though the powers of the future man 
are imperfectly developed; and, as we speak 
o 



158 JIEV1EW OP THE WOKKS 

of a man, restored from disease to health, as 
being well* although he is liable to future 
attacks of disease. It is, I apprehend, in this 
double sense of the word perfect, that the 
apostle Paul, viewing the amazing extent 
of the Christian science, if I may so speak, 
declares himself not to have attained or to 
be ahead)/ perfect ; and jet, in the same 
letter, and almost immediately after,- applies 
the f erm perfect to himself and some of those 
■whom he is addressing. "Let us therefore," 
he says, "as many as be perfect, be thus 
minded.'' 

Yet I think it is easy to see how good per- 
sons, practically agreeing in their views of 
what Christianity requires from its disciples, 
may be ranged on the opposite sides, in the 
speculative dispute about Christian perfection. 

Many differ on terms who agree in things / 
and whether a state in which we have still to 



the appellation of perfect, leaves abundant 
room for discussion. It must however be re- 
membered, that the perfection of h uraan beings, 
is not the same as that of the higher order of 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 159 

created intelligences — much less is it the same 
as that of the Creator of ail. 



Paul says, " There are bodies terrestrial, and 
bodies celestial; and the glory of the celestial 
is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is ano- 
ther." On the same authority we learn, that 
whilst in this terrestrial body, we groan and 
are burdened — the spirit must struggle with 
the flesh ; — and the life of the true Christian 
is aptly spoken of as a continual warfare, 
Christian perfection therefore consists in sup- 
porting this warfare, and in the devotion of 
"body, soul, and spirit" to obtain its glorious 
consummation. 

If there are any pious persons who cannot 
reconcile the views taken of the subject in 
the succeeding tract, with that state of hu- 
mility which the highest Christian will feel 
the most deeply, I would beg him not to be 
offended by the severity with which our 
author treats those, who contend for the im- 
possibility of deliverance from sin in this life. 
It was not a difference in terms about which 
his zeal was kindled, but it was against that 
laxity of Christian principle, which would 



160 IlEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

bring down the high standard of the morality 
of the Gospel, to that of worldly convenience ; 
or would substitute, for the spirituality of the 
Divine requirements, the forms and ceremo- 
nies of an external ritual. 

I shall present the reader with considerable 
extracts from this work, as serving to illustrate 
the character and tenets of the author, and as 
containing the most forcible arguments for 
that view of the subject which he took, and 
urged as the doctrine of the Society of Friends. 

The following passages are taken from the 
opening of the Book. 

"Many are the devices of Satan, and great 
is the subtilty which he furnishes his children 
and servants withal, by which he seeks to 
uphold his kingdom, pleading now a right to 
that which he got by subtilty; and has taught 
his whole family, that it is impossible for 
any to be freed from under his service ; even 
as if all men that are created of God, were 
created to the service of the devil: and, 
although he can make no man, yet that he is 
able, after they are made, to keep them in his 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 161 

service; yea, although their Maker does call 
for them to serve Him : and so, by this suppos- 
ed necessity, which is a doctrine well-pleasing 
to the flesh, he keeps nations, kindreds, 
tongues, and people, in bondage to his will."-! 

"Certainly, there is no manner of slaves 
so well contented with their bondage, as 
Satan's are ; and therefore it is worth the con- 
sidering, what right he has to reign over 
mankind, and what work it is he gives his 
servants to do, that is so well-pleasing unto 
them, that they cannot endure to hear of being 
set at liberty, as long as they have a day to 
live. As for my part, I have considered wha*" 
right Satan can claim to the government 
which he has among the children of me:i? 
reigning over kings and princes, priests and 
people, from one sect to another, setting theru 
all to work in blind zeal one against another; 
yet all agreeing in this one question, to wit. 
Is there any man or woman upon the earth, that 
is set free from . under the reign of Satan, 
that he can live without sin? or is it possible 
for any to be so? The general answer is : No ; 
we are all, and must be all his servants, all the 
days of our lives. But some might say ; Seein«* 
o3 



162 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

you are all fellow-servants, and that both you 
and your work do belong to one master; why 
then are you disagreeing with one another 
about the work ? But O ! my soul longeth that 
some might be awakened, once to consider, 
and to bethink themselves, how they came to 
this state and condition, and by what right and 
authority their master keeps them in this 
bondage, and whether it is not both lawful 
and possible to come from under it." 

" It would go beyond my present aim and 
purpose, to trace this spirit, who is called the 
Devil and Satan, the Dragon and Old Serpent, 
through all ages since the beginning, to see 
with how little truth, right, or equity, he came 
up to reign among men. The understanding 
reader of the Scriptures of Truth can see it 
clear enough ; and it is a great wonder, and 
one of the greatest that is in that part of the 
world called Christendom, that there are so 
many men, being men of knowledge in other 
matters, and such as set up the Scriptures so 
much as they seem to do, calling them the 
Word of God, the Rule of Christians, the Light 
of the World, the Guicfe of Life, &c. who go 
with such a book in their hands, pleading for 



OF STEPHEN* CRISP. 163 

Satan's kingdom, and for a necessity that it 
must continue as long as there is a man upon 
earth: whereas the Scripture, in substance, is 
nothing else but as a declaration against him 
and his government, and sheweth how he 
ought to be forsaken, opposed, resisted, and 
cast out ; and withal, how that primitive, pure, 
and holy, and righteous law of that Spirit, 
which is called God, and is holy, pure, and 
blessed for ever, 'ought to be embraced, re- 
ceived, and exalted in the whole creation. 

"I say, this is a very great wonder, of which,, 
and of the consequences whereof, the Chris- 
tians, so called, have cause to be ashamed ; 
yea, area reproach to the whole world: and 
it is high time that some do arise for God ; 
and the call is gone forth : 6 Who is on the 
Lord's part?' Exod. xxxii. 26. Satan has 
an innumerable host to plead for sin, some 
with arguments, and some with cruel wea- 
pons ; but who is on the Lord's part, that can 
say; The Lord reigns in righteousness; and 
iai truth He judges the earth, 

" O ! all ye carnal professors of God and 
Christ, in words, but who in works deny Him, 



16& REVIEW OP THE WORKS 

and say, that sin must stand and remain as 
long as you live! be it known unto you, in 
the Name of the God of Heaven, that where 
sin remains, there Satan is prince and ruler. 
And if that must remain as long as you live, 
Satan desires it no longer; for he that will be 
his servant in this life, must be his companion 
in the world to come." 

The author proceeds to notice several prin- 
cipal reasons or apologies, urged by those who 
opposed the doctrine of perfection. 

"First, they say, That sin is rooted and 
planted in the nature of man ; yea, so that a 
man ?nust cease to be a man, before he can 
come to cease from being a sinner. 

u AnszjD. That man in his natural state is so 
united with sin, as that he thereby is separated 
from God, I do not deny ; and also that (here 
is a natural inclination in man to commit sin. 
ls also true; to wit, as long as they remain in 
their natural state and condition." 



came to be corrupted, you have heard was 



OF STEPHEN CRISPj 165 

by man's joining with that spirit that was 
fallen and cast out from God, and had only a 
power in the darkness, and could not reign 
over any thing, but over that which he could 
draw from the glory of God into the darkness. 
And God, who dwells in the Light, being 
moved with infinite compassion, sent his Eter- 
nal Son, who was with Him before the world 
was, that He should be made partaker of the 
same nature in which man was created ; that 
by the virtue of the eternal power, He might 
restore him unto God, and might minister unto 
the spirits of all such, to whom this darkness 
and corrupted state was a prison-house. And 
this Jesus received not the nature of angels ; 
that was not his work ; but He received the 
seed of Abraham, which was in captivity, that 
He might redeem it from captivity through 
death : suffering under the weight of that 
which oppressed the creature, and caused it 
to groan after redemption : so that, although 
it could not deliver itself, yet it might come 
to be delivered through faith in Him, who is 
mighty to save. 

"And this Jesus, who was of the seed of 
Abraham after the flesh, purifieth the nature 



166 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

of all those that join with Him: for the work 
of Satan is to bri; g in corruption; and the 
work of Christ is to destroy it, and instead 
thereof, to bring in everlasting righteousness. 
Now, where sin is remaining in the nature, 
there the covenant with hell and death is not 
broken, neither are such in covenant with 
God; but are yet under the power of the 
prince of the air, whatever they may profess. 
And the death of Ciirist is yet of no value 
unto them, because they are yet in their sin 
and corrupted nature, unchanged, untrans- 
lated : so that those that hold this plea for 
Satan, That because he once got a place in the 
nature of man, and has corrupted it, there- 
fore sin must remain, so long as the life 
or nature remains ; such are strangers to the 
work of God, and to his power, by which He 
worketh, and also to Christ Jesus, through 
whom He works. And they have more faith 
in the power of Satan, than in the power 
of Christ, believing that Satan is more 
able to keep the creature, and to hold fast 
that which, by deceit and treachery,-he has 
gotten in it ; than God, who made the creature 
good in his nature, is able to restore it to his 
first purity, that the creature might come to 
serve Him in righteousness and holiness. 



OF STEPHEN CRtSP. 167 

"And such as so believe, are no true Chris- 
tians, nor true believers : but are standing in 
the corrupt nature, that has unity with Satan, 
and plead his cause; who is willing- that 
his corrupt birth should live in man, as long 
as he lives in the world : for he knows, that so 
long no acceptable sacrifice can be offered up 
to God; for you cannot bring forth a clean 
sacrifice out of an unclean vessel; and as 
long as nature is defiled, the works will b» 
unclean that are wrought in that nature." 

The second objection which the author 
notices, is, "That never any man was freed 
from sin, ever since sin first entered into the 
world; and that therefore it is presumption to 
expect such a thing in this life. 

"Answ. If this position were true, that there 
was never any man freed from sin, yet it 
would be presumption to say, that God should 
not be able to do that which He never did ; 
and it is also presumption to conclude, that 
never any man was freed. But if this position 
be false, then not only the consequence is 
false, to wit, that none can be freed ; but also 
the argument itself is proved to be a lie, and 



168 REVIEW OF THE WOUKS 

so is swept away, and a door is opened unto 
all, that have more love to righteousness than 
to sin, both to hope and to expect, that the 
*ame work should again be wrought in and 
for them, without presumption. Now, that 
all men are sinners by nature, is evident; and 
that some were changed out of that natural 
state, is as evident ; so that the question is 
only, Whether those that are translated out of 
that sinful nature, remain sinful, yea or nay. 
Which if they do, what advantage have they 
beyond others, if they, after they are trans- 
lated, must remain unfreed ? But I answer 
with the words of the apostle, I Peter iv. 1. 
'He that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased 
from sin.' And here he spoke of such as 
were yet in the body, but had suffered with, 
and were made partakers of the sufferings and 
death of Christ, by a dying to sin ; through 
which every one must pass, before he can 
come to the resurrection that is in Christ; by 
which, said Peter, They obtained the answer 
of a good conscience in the sight of God; which 
he calls the baptism tluit saves. Now, some 
having been partakers of that death, baptism, 
and resurrection of Christ, by which they 
came to cease from sin, and to have an answer 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



169 



of a good conscience, without offence both to 
God and man, which none that sin can have, 
then may there some lawfully expect to come 
to the enjoyment of the same state of freedom 
and clearness, as well nOw as formerly, with- 
out presumption. 

"Secondly, I answer with the words of the 
apostle John, 1 John iii. -9. 'He that is born 
of God sinneth not, because his seed abideth 
in him, and he cannot sin, for he is born of 
God.' Now, whereas there have been some 
that were born of God, and have been his 
children, and they that were so, had overcome 
the wicked one, so that he could not touch 
them, but they had kept their garments white 
and unspotted; and whereas some have been 
freed from the law of sin and death; and that 
some have walked unblameably and without 
spot ; and have put off the old man with his 
deeds, and known the new birth, and could by 
the Holy Spirit call God Father; which things 
are all manifest in the Scriptures of Truth, 
which none can deny but those that will deny 
the Scripture : — why then should any man 
question that the same works of redemption, 
should not now again be brought to pass? 



170 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

And therefore it is lawful to expect it without 
presumption. This argument being confuted 
by the experience of the saints." 

"Further, let us consider what these strong 
pleaders for sin have to fortify themselves 
withal; they say, they haze the Scripture to 
plead withal for sin, which certainly was 
never the intention of the Holy Spirit, by 
which it was given forth. But, say they, it is 
written in 1 Kings viii. 46. e For there is no 
man that sinneth not.' 

ce Answ. This is very true, neither do I 
plead, that any man is free from sin all the 
days of his life, (except Christ,) but have con- 
fessed they are all sinners by nature, until 
they be changed; and besides, there it is but 
spoken of a people that were under the law, 
of which the apostle says, that it made nothing 
perfect; but, said he, the bringing in of a 
better hope did : but the Law did not purify 
the comers thereunto, according to the con- 
science; but when the offerers had offered, 
there remained an evidence of sin in the 
conscience ; but what is that to the Christians, 
who are come to know a better hope, and the 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 171 

blood that purifieth the conscience? For the 
same apostle that said, the Law made no man 
perfect, (under which Law Solomon was, as 
also that people concerning whom it was 
said, there is none that lives and sinneth not,) 
this same apostle notwithstanding said, that it 
was the bringing in of a better hope that did 
it. And what ! are these fighters for sin, and 
sin-pleaders become so zealous, that they will 
rather deny the better hope, than cease from 
sin? If not, then there is a possibility to be 
made perfect by the blood of Christ, which 
the blood of bulls and goats could not do. 

" Another objection is brought forth, that 
is, That the apostle Paul said, that sin lived 
in him, and that the good that he would do, he 
did not ; and the evil that he would not do, that 
he did. 


"Answer. That Paul knew the passing- 
through such a state, is without question, and 
is not denied ; but this does not prove at all, 
that he never knew a better state ; or that he 
never came to perfection : for in that place 
he makes mention of three states. First, how 
it was with him, when he lived without the 
p 2 



172 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Law of God, in his liberty to fight against the 
Truth; and he thought he might do many- 
things against the Name of Jesus. Secondly? 
He declares of his convincement, and how it 
was with him then, when he knew he should 
not do any more against the Truth ; and jct f 
not being wholly changed, he did things 
which he knew he ought not, by reason of sin 
living and dwelling in him; and that state he 
did not call happy Or blessed ; (as thesejblind 
professors do at this day, that take up a rest 
in this state, and say, they can never be re- 
deemed out of it ;) for he, speaking of such a 
condition, cries out for deliverance, calling 
it a miserable condition; which plainly shew- 
eth, that his eye was upon a further and bet- 
ter state, unto which he also beareth witness; 
saying, he was made free by the law of the 
Spirit of Life, both from the law of sin and of 
death ; in v. Inch time lie was yet in the body. i 

" Now what reason have these pleaders for 
sin to believe, that Paul was in all these three 
states at once ? and if not, v hy not in the last ? 
seeing the oilier two are but foregoing States, 
leading to ihe third ; especially considering 
the many other testimonies which he gives of 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 173 

his being perfect, and of those that by his 
ministry were brought to perfection ; saying-, 
concerning himself. Timothy, and Sylvanus : 
We can do nothing against the Truth. And 
in another place he testifies, That he has fought 
a good fight, kept the Faith, and finished his 
course. Now, if it was finished, then there 
was no more to run; and if the fight was fought^ 
then the enemies were no more alive, as they 
were when sin lived and dwelled in him. 
Again he says, in another place, We preach 
wisdom among them that are perfect. That 
is, after the explication and sense of these sin- 
pleaders — We preach wisdom among none, ex- 
cept among those that are already departed 
out of this world, and gone to heaven ! 

" And again, As many of you as are perfect^ 
be so minded. That is to say, after their ex- 
plication — Let none be thus minded, before 
they be dead ! Again at last, Dear Brethren, 
be perfect, and of one mind, Sfc. But this, they 
say, cannot be in this life. And again he says 
to the Hebrews, You are come to the spirits 
of just men made perfect, and to God the 
Righteous Judge of all, $?c. But where were 
these Hebrews? were they yetalive, or were 
p3 



174 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

they dead? If dead, how came his epistle to 
meet them ?" 



"Another pleading is of that which is spoken 
by the apostle, 1 John, i. 8. If we saj/ wc 
have no sin, we deceive our seizes, and the Truth 
is not in us." 

" It ought to be well observed, that John 
speaks there of a sort of men that were not 
yet brought to confess their sins : and if such 
came to that conceit and pride, as to say they 
had no sins to confess, and so exalted them- 
selves above the witness of God that reproved 
them, then such deceived themselves. But if 
these that are so sinful, come to own that 
which brings them to a confession of their sins, 
then God is faithful to forgive such their sins, 
and to cleanse them from all iniquity. Now, 
when this is done, to wit, when the creature 
has confessed his sin, and God has forgiven 
it, and cleansed him, what must then that man 
say ? Must he then say, that he has his sin 
still, when he has it not ? Must he say, that he 
is filthy and defiled, when he is cleansed from 
all that? This would be a lie; and if he should 
be cleansed from all sin, he must certainly be 
cleansed from lies ; and if it was his duty to 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



175 



confess the work of the devil, when it "was 
standing in him, which were his sins, may not 
he now, being- cleansed, confess God's work, 
that He has cleansed him. he being cleansed by 
Him freely ? 

" Must he therefore be cried out of for a 
deceiver and heretic ? Who is so blind that he 
cannot see, that it is as serviceable as needful, 
and as lawful for a man that has known the 
power of God to cleanse him, to confess that, 
and to bear a testimony to that work, as it is 
needful and lawful, when the devil's work is 
manifested in him, to confess that — to bear a 
testimony against that ? 

" Yet, saith John to those that were tlius 
washed, If zee say that we have not sinned, we 
make God a liar. It is as much as if he would 
say, That even those that are saved, must con- 
fess to the power of God, by which they have 
been judged for sin; and not to exalt them- 
selves above it, as if they had never sinned, 
seeing that the witness of God testifieth in all, 
that they have sinned, and come short of tlie 
glory of God. So that now the understanding 
reader may see, that John hath not written here 
of an impossibility of being delivered from 



176 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

sin, but absolutely the contrary ; namely, that 
those that cannot say that they are without 
sin, may come, by confessing their sins, to be 
cleansed and made free from it ; yea, from all 
that which is unrighteous. Yet some will say, 
that the apostle in that place useth the word 
we, as if he included himself ; as if he would 
say at that time, If I should say, that I had 
no sin, Sfc. 

" Answer. This is no proof at all, because 
the contrary is proved before, to wit, that he 
had fellowship with God and Christ ; which 
no man could have, that walked not in the 
light, as He is in the light ; and such may as 
well, by the same manner of speaking, prove 
James to be a curser ; whereas he said, With 
the tongue we bless God, and with it we curse 
men, that are made after the image of God. 
And many more such instances might be 
brought forth, of the lamentations and com- 
plaints of the prophets concerning the House 
of Israel, which are translated so, in that man- 
ner of speaking ; which does not prove at all, 
that the prophets were guilty of such sifa 
and rebellion, of which they complained. 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 177 

" So having answered their chief objections, 
■which, thej draw out of the Scripture, by 
which they endeavour to prove, That none 
can be free from sin in this life, contrary io 
Rom. vi. 22 ; I make haste to the third great 
argument of these captives, which they lay 
down against their own freedom. 

" Thirdly. That is, That it is the will of God, 
to let some sins remain in the best of his people, 
to keep them humble thereby. 

" Answer. If it be the will of God, that his 
best servants should sin, then his will is done 
when they sin. And what reason have any 
men to be humbled and cast down, because 
they have done the will of God? but rather 
rejoice and be glad that the will of God is 
done, and that their will is conformable to 
the will of God — that the will of both can be 
done together. This is a very easy way to 
the joy of the Lord, if this brings to that sen- 
tence, Well done, good and faithful Servant, 
Sfc. But woe unto those that are given up to 
believe this lie. 

u But let these sin-pleaders but suppose, 
that if God should stretch forth his power so. 



178 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

far in man, that it should destroy all the works 
of the devil, and cast out sin ; and cause his 
soul to take as great delight and joy in well- 
doing, as ever it had in sin; and should plant 
humility as naturally in the soul, as the devil 
has planted pride in it — 

'•' Then the question is, Whether this Power 
that works this change, be not as able to keep 
the creature in this condition, as to bring him 
to it without any help of the devil or his 
works ? 

But they will say, To suppose a thing 
tJiat is impossible, is either against reason or 
presumption, 

I answer, All things are possible with God, 
except lo lie ; and as concerning this, it is 
not only possible, but the contrary is impos- 
sible, because God hath so often promised it, 
to make a perfect work, and to finish his work 
in all them that trust in Him. And for this 
end is Christ Jesus come, That Me might de- 
stroy the Devil and his works. And in the 
parable He saith, When Me comes that is 
stronger, Me shall bind the strong man, and 
spoil his goods, and cast him out. This seems 
as if Christ, who is the Stronger, had no need 
of the devil, or his goods either, to keep his 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 197 

people humble thereby. And the apostle said, 
that they zeere kept by the Faith, through the 
Power of God, unto Salvation.'''' 

li But seeing you profess that faith is the 
gift of God, we may well say, it is able to 
cleanse the heart, and to give victory over the 
world, and also over the devil and sin ; and 
then there is no need of sin to keep us hum- 
ble. For if humility was a fruit of sin, it 
would not be so acceptable to God as it is ; 
for the prophet says : He giveth his grace to 
the humble, and dmelleth zoith such as are of 
a contrite and broken heart. 

u Again, if a few sins, yea, though they be 
but a remnant, can keep men humble, then a 
great deal of sin must needs make a man more 
humble. So then let us plentifully sin, that 
vie may plentifully be humble. But God for- 
bid, that such doctrine or such teachers should 
go unreproved ; for they have exalted the 
work of the devil beyond the work of God. 
And it is because such teachers have been 
countenanced, that the people have been led 
into so much blindness, ignorance, and hard- 
ness of heart, and that people have wholly 



180 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

lost the hope and expectation of a day of 
deliverance ; and have taken up a rest in a 
sinful and slavish state." 

"But blessed be the Lord God of heaven 
and earth for ever; for He hath brought forth 
his day of salvation, which many have longed 
after, and are longing, and are in travail that 
they might come to know it ; to whom a sinful 
state is no resting place, but is unto them as 
a strange land, in which they cannot sing the 
songs of Sion ; but still have Jerusalem in their 
remembrance, which is free-born from above, 
longing after the day of gathering, that the 
Lamb, and not the changeable priests and 
teachers, may be their Light and Leader. 
Unto such I say and testify, in the name of the 
Lord God of heaven, lift up your heads, for 
the day of your redemption draweth nigh ; and 
deliverance shall come out of ' Sion, the city 
of our solemnity.' Isaiah xxxiii. 20. And a 
mighty voice shall be sounded forth from the 
holy mountain, from the Lord of Hosts ; and 
those that hear it shall live, and the dead 
bones in the valleys shall be enlivened, and 
the joy of that day shall be greater than the 
joy of the harvest. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 181 

" Now, how and in what manner these 
things will be brought to pass, is a great dis- 
pute among many, that are yet seeking in the 
carnal wisdom to conceive and comprehend 
spiritual things; and so they come to be scat- 
tered and divided in their imaginations : and 
therefore, in the mean time, those that are 
become willing to sit down in quietness, in 
the Light of Christ Jesus, that sheweth every 
running out of the mind, they come to feel the 
pure fear of God to be planted in their hearts ; 
so that they dare not think their own thoughts, 
nor speak their own words. And here is the 
beginning of the true wisdom, by which wis- 
dom it is given unto them, to understand those 
things which they could not find out in all the 
time of their travail and pains in the fallen 
wisdom. 

"And whilst they were hearkening after 
the different voices of men, they never could 
have a certainty; but now hearing Him by 
whom God speaketh, who is manifest within 
them, whom their ear is inclined unto within; 
they come to know certainly that which they 
know through the testimony of the Holy 
Spirit, who alone is able to reveal unto those 
that fear Him, the mysteries of God's king- 
Q 



182 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

dora ; and He shuts them up from the wise 
and prudent of this world. 

"And therefore, you that desire to have an 
understanding of these things, come down 
from your high builded towers of knowledge 
and comprehension, and sit down in that pure 
Light, that brings a death upon the earthly 
wisdom ; and become as fools, that you may 
be wise : and that wisdom that is so received, 
shall lead to know the number of the beast, 
which the whole world, with all their acade- 
mical wisdom, and all the sects, with their 
inventions, are strangers unto at this day, and 
are carrying about with them his name, and 
the number of it, or his mark, by which they 
are accepted among men, and yet do not know 
what it is. But when they come to be wise 
enough to know it, and honest enough to for- 
sake it, then they will see, that the friendship 
of this world comes to be broken, and the 
enmity to work against the holy seed; and 
the seed comes to arise and bruise the head of 
the enemy, and to nail it fast to a cross till it 
dies ; and then comes freedom — then there is 
war no more — then there is peace on earth, 
and nothing but good-will towards all men, 
yea, to enemies. Then anguish and sorrow 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 183 

flee away, and the perfect love of God casts 
out fear, and there is death no more; but that 
■which is overcome by immortality. Blessed 
and happy are all they that come to know that 
state ; and blessed are they that believe and 
wait to enjoy it; and blessed is that hope 
which leads thereunto." 

The remainder of the Treatise relates to the 
duration of the reign of Satan among men, 
in which he endeavours to explain the pro- 
phecies of Daniel and John, still keeping in 
view the great object of his Treatise, viz. the 
doctrine of Redemption from] sin in this life. 
Perhaps more may be learned from his brief 
view of the prophecies of Daniel and John, 
than from some more copious Commentaries. 

He says : " There is yet one thing worthy to 
be considered, of which mention is made in 
the Scriptures of Truth ; in which it appears, 
that in the beginning and setting up of the 
reign of Christ, when the everlasting Gospel 
was preached, and many thousands had be- 
lieved and obeyed it, so that they came to be 
witnesses of the kingdom of Christ; and when 
Satan was cast out, dethroned, and put under 
their feet, and some were made priests and 
2 



184 REVIEW Of THE WORKS 

kings to God — I say, after all these things^ 
there came an apostasy from the faith, by 
■which all these things afore-mentioned were 
brought forth ; and of that apostasy Paul 
prophesied to the Thessalonians : and John 
by the Spirit saw, how that Satan should get 
a great dominion over men, by many change- 
able means and ways executing his power;" 
"and that the Almighty God had set and ap- 
pointed a time, a certain time, to this dreadful) 
dark, changeable government, and had given 
John to know that it should last and continue 
but One Thousand, Two Hundred and Three- 
score days or years. And this is a set time, 
and hath its beginning, and its ending; but 
the kingdom of Christ, and also his Priesthood, 
are both after the power of an endless Life. 

"Now, seeing that this last power which 
Satan has gotten, is but to continue his ap- 
pointed time, why should any be his friend 
so far as to say, that it must continue always, 
and that it must never come to an end; and 
that people no ways can get freedom from 
under his tyrannical power." 

"Come, take your books into your hands, 
and read the number of the years; it is called 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 185 

1260 days ; reckon after the reckoning of the 
ancients, SO days to a month, and see whether 
that does not make out 42 months ; and see 
whether 42 months do not make a Time, 
Times, and half a Time ; and see what things 
are ordered to be in those different Times; 
and see whether you can find out the begin- 
ning of those Times, that so you may find the 
end of them : for all those that had their con- 
fidence in the number of the year 1666, are 
now confounded, ashamed, and their hope is 
frustrated. And now it is high time to wait 
upon the Lord, to get an understanding and 
knowledge which makes not ashamed. 

" Now, the first thing to be considered, to 
the opening of this thing, is, that the first 
appearance against this man child, that was 
born in heaven by a woman that was clothed 
with the sun, and had her feet upon the moon, 
and was crowned with the stars — the first, I 
say, that appeared against this child, was a 
great red Dragon. Mark, this was no sub- 
stitute under Satan, but was Satan himself; 
though he appeared in heaven, as you may 
see, Rev. xii. 13; and he it is that has given 
power to all those that have persecuted this 
woman, or her seed; but as long as he was in 
q 3 



186 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

heaven, he was no perfect persecutor; there 
he had no power, but only to be an accuser of 
the brethren, and therein be busied himself 
night and day. But by this it is evident, that 
there was a power over him, to which he 
accused them, and so long they could not 
sing: but when he was cast out with his 
angels, then they sang: Now is salvation 
come, and power, and the kingdom of our God, 
and the power of his Christ ; for the accuser 
of our brethren that accused them day and 
night before our God, is cast down, Sfc. 

"But then wo unto them that dwell on 
earth, where Satan got his power, that is in. 
the earthly ground. There he rules with great 
wrath, anger and fury, and indignation, per- 
secuting the woman, and the least appearance 
of her seed ; and because he cannot do harm 
enough of himself, he goes and makes for 
himself a substitute, to wit, a beast with seven 
heads and ten horns. Mark, just the number 
•of his own heads and horns, only he came out 
of the pit, and this out of the sea or waters, of 
which waters you may read in Rev. xvii. 15, 
* That they are peoples, tongues, languages, 
and nations;' and out of them came this 
strange beast p which Satan counted worthy to 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 1S7 

have bis perfect power, because be knew that 
he would do his work for him to purpose; 
and be received his power for the space of 
forty tv, o months. 

"His first work was to persecute the saints : 
Secondly, to set up tbe worship of the devil i 
Thirdly, to bring the dread of this seven- 
headed beast over the whole earth : Fourthly, 
to blaspheme the name of God and his taber- 
nacle, and them that dwell therein: And, 
Fifthly, to make people believe, that there is 
no overcoming of his power. And these 
works are spread and carried on by three 
unclean spirits, which came forth out of the 
mouth of the dragon, beast, and false prophet, 
over all kindreds, nations, tongues, and people; 
and there was none able to resist them, except 
those whose names were written in the book of 
the Life of the Lamb. And concerning them, 
because they would not receive the mark of 
the beast in their forehead or right hand, they 
must be banished, and must not have liberty 
to buy or sell; and those that would worship 
nothing but a living substance, and not an 
image, though it was alive, those must be 
killed. 



188 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

"And when that sort were all killed and 
banished, and the whole world brought, some- 
times to worship the dragon, sometimes to 
worship the beast that had just so many heads 
and horns as the dragon himself; and then to 
worship a little beast with two horns, that 
came out of the earth ; and then to worship 
the image of the old seven headed beast — 
when I say, that all things upon the whole 
earth were thus disposed, then was it as Satan 
would have it; for now had every one sub- 
jected himself unto his power, and received 
that name or mark, or the number of the sub- 
stitute, and admired his great power; and set 
him up as the chief among men, whom none 
could overcome, except some few that had 
the Word of God itself, (for the other had 
the Scripture,) and durst seal their testimony 
against the dragon and false prophet with 
their blood. 

"And because these were but a few, and 
were soon killed, they being dead, there was 
a joyful and merry world; Satan was well 
pleased, and they did send their gifts to one 
another abundantly ; and those that had been 
most busy, and serviceable to kill the wit- 
nesses, (those that dared to speak of another 



OF STEPHEN CRISf. 189 

kingdom or dominion, besides that of the dra- 
gon and beast,) they had the greatest gifts. 
And in those days there was no prophesying, 
but in sack-cloth, and neither did that conti^- 
nue long; but the prophets were killed ; and, 
being dead, their dead bodies were kept above 
the earth, and were more esteemed of than their 
living testimony was, for that plagued all the 
worshippers of the beast. 

"So in such a time have the nations been 
so long, that they are so used to the power 
and reign of Satan, that they plead for it, as 
if he had an undoubted right thereto. And 
if Satan might speak himself, he would not 
desire of the world to rule any longer than the 
world alloweth him ; for they have forgotten, 
that it is but to continue forty two months, 
whilst the man child was caught up unto 
God, and whilst his mother was in the wil- 
derness ; and also, that it was to be expected, 
that both should appear again in their ap- 
pointed time. 

"But whilst it was thus with the world, viz. 
That the true Church was not to be found 
upon earth, but was \fled away,as upon eagles' 
wino-s. 



190 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

all, was caught up into heaven ; and that the 
devil was in his place, the old serpent ruling 
and giving his power to whom he pleased, to a 
great beast, or little beast, or to a harlot, or to 
any thing like him; and whilst great and 
small, high and low, bond and free, did won- 
der at his power, and were ready to worship 
any one that had his power; let those whose 
eyes are open, but consider in what a lament- 
able state the miserable world then was, and 
whether that abomination that made the world 
desolate of God and all good order, was not 
then set up in the holy place, where it ought 
not. And was the world without a religion, 
or without a profession of God and Christ in 
those days? No: they bore a profession of 
Christ who is unchangeable, in all their 
changeable ways; and this was a time of 
gladness to many. 

"And they who rejoiced at the man child 
being caught up to God, had many sorts of 
religions ; and when they came to be weary 
with one, Satan furnished them with another. 
And when they had been exercised a long 
time in the aforesaid worships of the dragon, 
the seven headed beast, the little beast, and 
of the living image, then there came forth yet 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 191 

a deeper mystery of iniquity than before, the 
mother of all these abominations : she shewed 
herself not as a despised harlot, but as a queen, 
decked with scarlet, purple, and precious 
stones. And that very beast, which none 
could overcome, but which the whole world 
had wondered after, he himself must be under 
her command, and must carry her up and 
down upon the waters, which are peoples, 
lands, tongues, and languages. And this har- 
lot hath another design upon the poor blind 
world. Mark — she comes with a preparation 
to make all drunk, that they might not make 
use of their senses, to bethink themselves 
where they were; and that they might not 
have any suspicion against any thing, she 
furnishes herself with a golden cup, which 
there was none that had any thing against it, 
but every one could well receive it. 

"And this was but to deceive them; for 
any potsherd of the dunghill had been good 
enough, to drink that out of, which she had 
to give them. But she must give her drink 
to kings and princes, and nobles and captains, 
and merchants, and to all sorts of men. So 
she proffered them her cup, and they have all 
drunk." 



192 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

"They were drunk of abominations, and 
the harlot was drunk of the blood of the 
saints and witnesses of Jesus; and yet the 
name of Jesus was still professed upon earth. 
His name was not persecuted ; but those were 
persecuted, that witnessed Jesus himself who 
takes away sin. Such were persecuted ; for 
she could not endure to hear, that sin, which 
is an abomination to the Lord, should be taken 
away, and that men should live without sin, 
and be perfect; for if so, then she must be 
childless, and as a widow, and must lose her 
high place on the top of the beast; and then 
men would not be so drunk of her cup, and 
that would not tend to her advantage. There- 
fore if any came to be witnesses of Jesus 
himself, she drank the blood of such; but if 
they would be content to drink her cup, and 
so would please themselves wiih good and 
precious words, and in the mean time drink 
in her abominations, then they might live and 
flourish as long as she nourished. 

"But, alas! what do you think, who read 
with understanding, was the state of the world 
in those days? Was it not high time that 
plagues, indignation, and vengeance should be 
poured out upon this bloody harlot, and upon 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 193 

the seat of the beast upon which she did ride, 
and upon the whole earth, which had commit- 
ted fornication with her ? Is it not high time 
that the carpenters should come, Zach. i. 20, 
to cut off these horns? for at that time the 
power of darkness was spread over all, and 
the will of Satan was done, and his one thou- 
sand two hundred and sixty years were pros- 
perous to his kingdom, and he did what he 
pleased. And if any spoke against him, and 
against his kingdom, he would have them 
killed, and then his harlot would drink the 
blood of such. And there was none left, 
neither great nor small, neither bond nor free, 
high nor low, neither young nor old, but had 
submitted themselves all of them, and said: 
Who is like him? None are able to overcome 
him. — It is impossible to be made free from 
under his power. — He must reign as long as 
we live. — It is possible for us (cry they) to 
overcome princes, kingdoms, and armies ; and 
therefore zee go out and fight valiantly, and 
many times zee get victory, and become con- 
querors ; but to overcome sin, which Satan 
has set up in us, that is impossible ; and 
therefore it is vain to trouble ourselves about 
it; and we will not do any thing concerning 



J94 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

it, seeing we have drunk in a faith, that it is 
impossible to perform or accomplish it. 

"And thus has the whole world been be- 
witched, in the time when Satan has reigned. 
And will he a:;d his servants make us believe, 
that it must continue so always? though never 
any other time was given him, but such as 
was limited ; and, in the end of that time, we 
understand there is a great alteration to come 
to pass; to wit, That the Church, the true 
woman, must come out of the wilderness again; 
— the man child must come down again, and 
appear upon earth, and rule the nations with 
u rod of iron; and the harlot must be judged; 
— that sorrow, death, and famine must come 
upon her in one day ; and that ten kings 
should agree together, to burn her flesh with 
fire; and that the smoke of her torments should 
ascend to heaven; and then must the dragon, 
the beast, and false prophet, that had still 
preached peace, though it was as abovesaid, 
they must all be taken, whilst they are yet 
alive hi this work and in their power, and bg 
cast into the lake of the wrath of God, which 
burnetii for ever; — and these princes, and 
captains, and merchants, and inhabitants of 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 1&> 

the earth, must howl and lament because of 
this great alteration. 

a And therefore, seeing that such a time is 
lawfully to be expected, in which Satan, the 
old serpent, may be thrust out of his domi- 
nion, and that then the time of joy and re- 
joicing will be for the upright, it is worth the 
spending of our labour and time, to find out 
that time ; that so it may not come over us, 
and we see it not, and know it not, and so let it 
pass by, as the Jews did; and so be doting and 
wailing for it, as a thing which is yet to come, 
as they do at this day, when almost two thou- 
sand years are past, since the thing came to 



4f Now, you know the Jews had a prophet, 
who told them the time when the Messiah 
should come, afo uiiand, to wit, Daniel, as you 
may see, Dan. ix. 24, &c. where he told them, 
that it was seventy weeks that were determined 
upon the people, and upon the city, and that 
the Holy One should be anointed. Now, this 
was not such a great mystery to them; they 
knew it was common to reckon a day for a 
year among the prophets; so that that time 
was but four hundred, fourscore and tea years 
k 2 



196 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

that the visions should be sealed, and the daily 
sacrifice taken away, the city be made deso- 
late, and the anointing of the Holy One come 
to pass, and the Messiah be slain for the sins 
of the people. And since the time that the 
command was gone forth to build Jerusalem 
again, in which time the seventy weeks had 
their beginning, is above two thousand years. 
The city is since builded again, and also made 
again desolate, and the daily sacrifice taken 
away ; and the Prince of the people that then 
came, viz. Titus Vespasianus, the Roman, has 
destroyed the Sanctuary ; and the destruction 
of it was vith an overflowing to the end of 
the war: and yet all these things cannot con- 
vince them, nor make them believe that the 
Messiah is come, or that it was He whom 
their forefathers have killed as a blasphemer. 

"Now, that we, after such clear prophecies 
of the setting up of the kingdom of Christ, 
and dethroning ofthe devil, sin, and antichrist, 
should not come to be surprised with the same 
blindness and hardness of heart, let us have a 
strict observation of the times; that we may 
not fight against the appearance of Truth, and 
put it far away from us, and say : The days 
are not come yet, in which the pouring out of 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 197 

the spirit can be witnessed ; and that the know- 
ledge of God must cover the earth, as the 
waters cover the sea ; and that the Gospel 
must be preached again to those that dwell upon- 
the earth ; and that the Lamb and his saints 
must have the victory over the dragon and 
his angels. For, such as put the day so far 
from them, are in one and the same error with 
the Jews, and do not understand the times 
better than they do ; and so are persecuting 
the true appearance of that which they seem 
to expect and to pray for, as the Jews did, 
because it does not appear in their way, to 
answer their carnal expectations, who despise 
the day of small things. But from such are 
the mysteries of the kingdom shut up, and 
are revealed unto those that fear the Lord. 

" Now to understand these things, let every 
one come to read the prophecies in a measure 
of that Spirit by which they were given forth, 
and as that same opens the prophecies; for, 
without it, every one' understands only accord- 
ing to his own fancy or private judgment. 
The apostle said, There should come an Apos- 
tasy from the Faith ; that is, from the true 
Christian faith. Now, when was that ? And 
who are they that are thus apostatised, or fallen 
r3 



1C8 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

away ? Ask the Pope, and the whole Roman 
Catholic Church, and they will tell you, that 
; the prophecy points at Martin Luther, Zuin- 
glius, CTEcolampadhis, Calviiius, Menno Si- 
moifis, and other heretics, that have rent many 
nations from the true apostolic faith, and the 
ancient Christian Church, the infallible foun- 
dation and pillar of Truth, &c. 

" Ask the Bishops of England, and the 
Presbyters in Scotland, the Pfarherren or 
Pastors in Denmark or Sweden, and Predicants 
in the Low Countries, and they will tell you, 
that this prophecy signifieth the general apos- 
tasy from the apostolic faith and order in the 
Church of Christ, to the Pope and popish ex- 
ercises and Institutions over all Christendom. 

"Again, ask them, Who among themselves 
continue as yet in the true apostolical faith 
and religion ? Then the Lutheran Pastors will 
say, that we are ; and therefore, cry they, join 
with us. No, say the Bishops in England, we 
will prove, that the Apostolical Church had 
Bishops, and that the apostle said, He that 
desires the office of a Bishop, he desires a 
good work ; and therefore we are they that 
are the true Church, according to the first in- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 199 

stilution. Then say the Presbyterians and 
Dutch Predicants, The Bishops in the primitive 
Churches were not such as you are, but such 
as we are, whose care was over the flock; and 
did teach and rule in ecclesiastical matters, 
but not in Councils and Parliaments, as you 
do ; therefore you are fallen from the primi- 
tive state. 

K And now at last what says Truth of these, 
and all others who deny that faith which pu- 
rifies the heart, and can cleanse the consci- 
ence from sin, and can give victory over the 
world ? This was the faith which Paul preach- 
ed, that was nigh in the heart ; and therefore 
all those that say, that the heart of a true be- 
liever cannot be made clean, that he cannot 
come to live without sin, nor to have a purified 
conscience ; and all those that deny the word 
of faith in the heart, and Christ to be the rule, 
and set up another rule., and another faith, 
and another foundation for it than the apos- 
tle set up; all such are fallen from the faith, 
and are not apostolic, but antichristian. And 
when the man of sin comes to be revealed, they 
will come to be revealed with him, and fall 
with him, and with Babylon, the mother of 



£00 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

them all ; and great will be their fall in tbai 
day. 

et There is yet another prophecy of Christ, 
in which He said : When you see the abomi- 
nation of desolation standing in the holy 
place, where it ought not ; then let him 
that is in Judea flee upon the mountain ; let not 
him that is in the field, go back to fetch his 
clothes; nor he that is on the house top, 
come down to talce any thing out of his house, 
$,*c. Mat. xxiv. 15. And He further said, 
Ver. 23, 24. Then if any man shall say 
vnto you, JLo, here is Christ, or there, believe 
him not, Sj-c. signifying plainly, that when 
the abomination of desolation should be set 
up, the people, notwithstanding, would not 
be wanting in divers sorts of teachers of the 
name of Christ. 

" What were they made desolate of, by the 
setting up of this abomination, seeing they 
were not desolate of a profession of Christ in 
divers manners ? They were desolate of the 
power and presence of God in all their holy 
places, (as they called them,) where this abo- 
mination was set up ; even as Christ said to 
the Jews, when they had made the house of 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 201 

prayer to be a den of thieves ; then said He, 
Your house is left unto you desolate. Mark, it 
was not then desolate of people, of congrega- 
tions, of religions, and worship; but it was 
desolate of the presence of God ; for that was 
not to be found there. So that abomination 
which makes people desolate of the power of 
God, by which they should have power over 
their sins and lusts ; and which makes the mi- 
nisters and teachers desolate of the Spirit of 
God, by which they should have been led to 
preach the Gospel ; this abomination has been 
set up a long time, and made the people and 
nations as a wilderness ; and this has been 
since that time, that the Christian religion has 
been carried on and maintained by the tradi- 
tions of men. 

(i Then came the poison to be poured out 
into the Church ; and thereby it is come to 
be so swelled and big, that it can comprehend 
within it the tyrannical and persecuting 
Princes, proud and rebellious Bishops, wicked 
men-slayers and murderers, unclean, wanton, 
and drunken people : they have all room 
enough in it. And since that time it is counted 
heresy, that any should make a profession of 
being purified and cleansed j and from that 



202 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

time it may be reckoned, that the abomination 
of desolation has been set up. And therefore 
let us consider how long it is yet to stand, be- 
fore Satan comes to be cast out, and the tem- 
ple of God be cleansed, and the filth of abo- 
mination be burned up, that the God of heaven 
may again delight in his sanctuary, and that 
the earth may not for ever be empty of his 
presence ; but that He may be found of those 
that seek Him, and be heard of them that are 
mourning after Him. 

"Now John saith, that this time of desola* 
tion, was to continue a time, times, and half a 
time ; that is, three years and a half, or three 
times twelve months and six months; that is, 
forty two months, or one thousand two 
hundred and sixty days ; which times are 
agreeing* together in one, and do perfectly 
fulfil the time of the restoration of the Church, 
and of the coming of the Righteous Judge, 
whose right it is to rule over men ; for to Him 
are the Gentiles given for an inheritance, and 
the ends of the earth for apossession. And that 
time doth also perfectly fulfil the time of the 
power of the beast; for these times do all agree 
together ; and as they had their beginning 
about one and the same time, they must also 



OF STEPHEN CIUSP. 203 

have their end shortly after one another, be- 
cause they are like one another. 

" Now to find out the end of those times, 
the beginning must be first known. Now the 
daily sacrifice was taken away long before 
the abomination, that made the earth desolate, 
was set up ; but from that time that both 
should be fulfilled, said the angel to Daniel, 
should there be one thousand, two hundred 
and ninety days, that is thirty more than John 
writes of. Now the abomination of desolation 
was not set up in the time of Christ ; for said 
He, When you shall see it set up, 3fc. speaking 
as of a thing that was not yet come to pass; 
and the Apostle said : There shall come an 
Apostasy from the Faith ; which shews that 
it was not yet come, neither did it come till 
several hundred years after ; for the true 
Christians suffered many cruel and_grievous 
deaths for the Christian faith ; so that they 
did not fall away, but endured to the end, and 
were saved ; and so long the earth was not 
desolate. 

" But when that faith was lost, which did 
support in sufferings, and that the Christian 
religion, (which was the holy place,) came to 



20-t REVIEW 0.7 THE W0RK3 

be corrupted by pride, covetousness, persecu- 
tion and worldly pleasures, ease, and the de- 
lights and honours of this world ; then the 
abomination was set up, that made the earth 
desolate. 

" And reckon from that time, one thousand, 
two hundred and sixty years, and add to it 
these thirty years, of which the angel spoke 
to Daniel, Dan. xii. 11, and see whether we 
be not about the forty-five years, of which 
there is made mention in the 12th verse, where 
the angel having spoken of the one thousand, 
two hundred, ninety years, adds, Blessed 
is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 
thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days : 
signifying plainly, that there must be a time 
of patience and waiting for the blessed 
restoration, which was promised ; and that 
that time of waiting should continue from the 
one thousand, two hundred and ninety, till 
one thousand, three hundred and thirty-five, 
which are forty-five days or years ; and then 
they are blessed that come thereunto. 

" So he that hath wisdom, let him reckon ; 
but this reckoning is not comprehended in 
arithmetic, or the art of reckoning ; neither 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 205 

can it be conceived by the -wisdom of this 
world : but such as have the wisdom which 
cometh from God, they shall understand ; and 
it is to such I write." 

"And by what is here said, it sufficiently 
appears ; first, that this intruder or usurper, 
called the Devil, Satan, Dragon, or Antichrist, 
has no right to rule and to reign over man- 
kind, all the days of their life : Secondly, 
that his kingdom is a limited kingdom, and 
was not to continue for ever : Thirdly, that 
the limits of it have been revealed to several 
of the servants of God : Fourthly, that the 
appointed time of his governments is nigh, 
come to an end : Fifthly, that there is a 
blessed day and time to be expected after the 
end of his reign : And sixthly, that none can 
come to enjoy that blessed time and blessed- 
ness, nor sing the song of joy and deliverance, 
but those that patiently wait upon the Lord in 
the days of tribulation ; and have that hope 
to see the salvation which cometh out of Sion* 

ft And therefore for conclusion, I shall say 
this, that all those that feel themselves in bond- 
age under this prince of darkness, in what 



20Q REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

manner soever it be, and are not willing to 
remain so always ; let them but believe in 
Him that sheweth you your bondage, and 
wait in his pure light in your own consciences, 
which discovers darkness and the prince of 
it ; and then you will feel a hope to spring 
up in you, that you may be delivered, as I my- 
self have felt. 1 John, iii. 3. 

" This hope v. ill lead to a daily washing 
and purifying, and to a daily crucifying and 
mortifying of thy earthly members. And as 
this hope comes to work in thee, it will bring 
thee to an experience of being delivered in 
some particular things, and that will strengthen 
thy hope of being delivered from more; and 
so, at last a faith will arise in thee, perfectly 
and thoroughly to be made free from sin. And 
when thou art made partaker of this faith, then 
the greatest and strongest bond of Satan is 
broken ; for, through the unbelief of it, he 
keeps his kingdom in man and woman. And 
when this evil root of unbelief is taken away, 
then his kingdom comes soon to an end, and 
the government of Truth comes to be set up 
in thee ; and so there comes a change to be 
wrought in thee, both inwardly and out- 
wardly ; and so cojnes his kingdom, who is 



OF STEPIIEX CRISP. 207 

the intruder or usurper, to be lessened, first in 
thyself, and then thou comest to see that change 
in another ; and so it goeth forward, from one 
to ten, and from ten to a thousand, and so 
forth, more and more, until the inheritance of 
the wicked comes to be wholly laid waste; till 
Truth and Righteousness, and the reign and 
government of Christ Jesus our Lord, come to 
be set up in the earth ; which my soul longs 
and travails for. 

" And so, I know, it is with many more, for 
whose sake this is written ; and as a testimony 
against that proud and presumptuous genera- 
tion of hypocrites, of what sort or name, or in 
•what nation or kingdom soever they may be, 
■who not only have subjected themselves unto 
this prince of darkness, and unto the power of 
him who is called the Devil and Satan, but 
■who also pretend, that all mankind must do 
so, and continue so all their days, and that 
there is no remedy nor help against it ; and 
so deny the power of God, and lead the peo- 
ple to trust in a lie. But the day of the 
Power of God is come, and the refuge of lies 
is swept away; and the deliverance and vic- 
tory of the LAMB is known unto many ; to 
whom, and to the everlasting God, by the 



208 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts'" of 
the redeemed, be sung everlasting praises, 
thanksgiving, renown, honour and glory, and 
dominion for ever." 

A considerable Postscript is added to this 
Work, from which I make the following ex- 
tract : 

11 Another great plea, which these sin- 
pleaders bring, is this : If people can come to 
perfection in this life, then they have no need 
of Christ to be their Saviour ; as if the salva- 
tion by Christ, and a perfect and pure life, 
were inconsistent with one another. Ye fools 
and blind, know ye not that all good and per- 
fect gifts come from the Lord, and that none 
can come to perfection, but by his gift ? And 
if God be the giver, is it not then by grace ? 
Where are works then ? But these pleaders 
for sin, are as great strangers to the salvation 
which is in Christ Jesus, as they are to per- 
fection, otherwise they would see their igno- 
rance. When Christ said to his disciples, Be 
i/e perfect, as your Father which is in heaven 
is perfect : that is as much as to say, (accord- 
ing to the explanation of these people,) There is 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 209 

your command ; when that is done, you Lave 
no need of Me. 

"And the apostle spoke Wisdom among them 
that are perfect, but not such wisdom, or ra- 
ther foolishness, as this, to persuade them, that 
they had no need of Christ to be their Saviour 
because they were come to perfection ; but, 
on the contrary, he said, that he could do all 
things; then he could be perfect; but not as 
of himself, but through Christ that enabled 
him. And those that come to a perfect state, 
they know that their salvation is not of their 
works, how good and pure soever they may 
be, but merely by grace, through Jesus Christy 
and in that respect of these three following: 
observations. 

a First, That it was the appearance of Christ 
Jesus, who is the Power of God, that brought 
them off from their sin and imperfection ; and 
that they have not left them off of themselves, 
but do own that it is the grace of God, as the 
apostle did, Titus, ii. 11, 12. For the grace 
of God that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared 
vMo all men, teaching us, that, denying ungod- 
liness and zeorldly lusts, zee should live soberly £ 
righteously, and godly in this present worldL 
s a 



210 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

So here you may see, that it is the appearance 
of the grace of God that leads to perfection ; 
and this perfection is not yet a perfect salva- 
tion ; for those that have it, may fall from it 
again, and so not be saved ; but those that en- 
dure to the end shall be saved 

"But, Secondly, it is Christ who is the pre- 
server and keeper unto the end, of those that 
trust in Him ; and the apostles testify, that 
those that were delivered from the corruption 
of this world, must know Him to be their 
keeper, who had gathered them out of the 
world ; and therefore said Jude in his epistle, 
ver. 24. Now unto Him that ■ is able to keep 
you from falling, and to present you faultless 
before the presence of his glory, zoith exceed- 
ing joy, 8fc. And Peter tcstifieth, 1 Peter, i. 
5. You are kept by the power of God, through 
faith, unto salvation, ready to be revealed in 
the last time. And Paul testifieth, That the 
keeping is by Jesus Christ. Phil. iv. 7. So 
here you may see, that the bringing to the 
state of perfection, and the keeping from fall- 
ing from it again, are both the work of Christ ; 
and yet this is not a perfect salvation, for 
this does not put away the former sins. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 211 

"But, Thirdly, whoever comes to perfect 
salvation, he comes to know Christ to be an 
offering for sin, and to obtain reconciliation 
■with God, and forgiveness of his former sins. 
For all the holy conversation and perfection 
of life, can be counted no more than his duty ; 
and therefore he cannot obtain remission of 
one of his former sins. But those that confess 
their sins, and forsake them, such come to 
forgiveness by Jesus Christ, and come to know 
his blood cleansing them from all their former 
sins ; and so they come to perfect salvation 
by grace ; not by works, but by faith, that 
works in the love of God, unto obedience; 
without which, faith is but dead, and makes 
no man saved, but those that have this true 
faith and hope in them. They purify them- 
selves, as He is pure. 1 John, iii. 3. And he 
that has not this hope, does not purify himself, 
neither does he believe that he can do it. And 
by this we know the true believers from the 
false ; and by this sinners are made manifest, 
that cannot stand in the congregation of the 
righteous. Psalm i. 5. 

w So now let all the pleaders for sin stop 
their mouths for ever, and let Satan stand for 
himself, and plead his own cause ; and hence- 



212 KEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

forth do not despise and revile the innocent, 
that are travailing and striving after perfection 
with a faith to obtain it, as if they think to be 
saved by their own works ; for we hope for 
no other salvation, than that which is in and by 
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, who is 
the first-born of every creature, who brings 
many sons and daughters unto glory, but not 
by leaving them in their sins ; for his name is 
Jesus, and He saves people from their sins." 



No. 17. " An Address to the Magistrates of 
Groninghen" Date uncertain. — 4 pages. 

This is a Christian persuasive against the 
persecution which prevailed at Groninghem 
against those who professed the principles of 
Friends. It thus expostulates with the Ma* 
gistrates. 

" And whereas the Lord is pleased in this 
your day, to visit a small remnant in your 
city, with the knowledge of his everlasting 
Truth, and to lead them to take up the cross,, 
and deny themselves, and to leave the cus- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 213 

toras and ways of this evil world, and to wait 
upon God in the despised way of the Quakers, 
so called ; what harm is this unto you ? What 
evil have they done since, or what evil have 
that people done to any prince or government 
since they were a people ? What is this great 
cry and noise made against us for ? Is it not 
as in days past, if any man depart from ini- 
quity, he makes himself a prey ; and he that 
reproveth sin in the gate, for him they lay 
a snare ? Why are the workers of iniquity so 
moved? Ought you not to enquire of our ac- 
cusers, when they come to you, what evil we 
have done against God, or the wholesome laws 
and liberty of the land, before you lay your 
hand upon us ?" 

After warning them against the influence of 
their priests, &c. he thus states the necessity 
which he and his friends felt of obeying God 
rather than men, and the inefficiency of perse- 
cution to deter them from their duty. 

" The more you cause this people to suffer, 
the more shall we be drawn, in the love and 
power of God, to visit them, and your city for 
their sakes ; for we durst do no other, being 
commanded so of Christ, who is the Head of 



214 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

our Church. And if any the least member of 
Him be in prison, in hunger, or want, and we 
visit them not, He takes it as if He had 
been so, and we had neglected visiting Him. 
And this hazard we dare not run, for all the 
frowns and threats of men ; for we know no 
man, but Christ Jesus, shall ever receive power 
to say, Go ye cursed, iyc. And it is not suffer- 
ings and tribulations can now affright or deter 
us from our service and testimony to our God ; 
for we have learned in all states to be con- 
tented. And if our tribulations abound for 
the Gospel's sake, our consolation abounds 
much more ; so that we can, in the strength of 
God, give our back to the smiier, and turn the 
other cheek, and our face to them that pluck 
off the hair ; and, when all that is done, pray 
for these our enemies, and do them good 
against all this evil. And this we boast not 
of, as of ourselves, but as the gift of God, 
freely given unto us for Christ's sake, in whom 
our sufficiency is." 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 215 

No. 18. " A Lamentation over the City of 
Groninghen." 1669. — 25 pages. 

This address appears to have been excited 
Tjy the rude treatment and persecution -which 
the converts to the doctrine and practices of 
Friends experienced in this place. 

After describing and lamenting the sinful 
state of the city, and earnestly recommending 
repentance, he thus boldly proceeds. 

" Thy rulers are like fierce young lions, 
that roar because they are troubled, and think 
to affright the lambs with their thundering out 
threatenings. Thy priests are like the she- 
bear that is robbed of her whelps, seeking 
their revenge upon the innocent, and stirring 
up the young lions as to a prey. Thy people 
are like the wild beasts of the forest, which, 
with a confused noise, are gathered together 
to devour. Thy children run snarling to and 
fro in the streets, tumulting and hallooing, 
and uttering all mEnner of reproach and spite 
against the innocent and harmless people, who 
are departing from your ungodly course of 
life, and are called out of your Babylonish 
worships to be separated from you. 



216 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" O Friends ! consider, are these the fruits 
of a Gospel ministry, and a well-governed Re- 
public ? are not these tumults and uproars, a 
shame to both priests and rulers, yea, and to 
all the masters and fathers of families in your 
whole city ? Doth it not appear you have lost 
the good government that you ought to have 
over the people, and the children and servants, 
in your city and respective families ? O, con- 
sider these things ! Whence comes uproar? Is 
it not from the spirit of the Sodomists that tu- 
multed the house of Lot ? And what was it set 
Jerusalem of an uproar ? And what set other 
cities in the acts of an uproar, but per- 
secution ? And was not Gamaliel wise 
enough to still the tumult, by persuading them 
to leave persection, and leave the mat* 
ter to God. O that you called Christians 
were but so wise ! But, alas ! it hath grieved 
my heart, while I was in your city, to see and 
hear young and old, given up to an Ishmael 
spirit, mocking and scorning, and deriding 
the innocent; and to see how it is happened to 
you in Groninghen, as it was in the rebellious 
house of Israel of old — they that feared the 
Lord, were as signs and wonders in Israel." 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 



217 



" And now all you rulers, priests, and inha- 
bitants of the city of Groninghen, let me treat 
a little more particularly with you, and en- 
quire what is the reason you are thus moved 
and driven on heaps, as you are. I know the 
answer is : Here is a people in our city, that 
men call Quakers, that in their life differ from 
us ; and if we pipe to them, they will not dance; 
and if we mourn, they will not lament : they 
will neither rejoice in that in which we re- 
joice, nor grieve at that at which we grieve ; 
but in their worship, and in their manners, and 
words, and all, they differ from us. Well, what 
then ! what evil have they done to you or to 
your city, or what have this people done 
against any other city, where they have lived 
and do live ? Alas 4 say men, they are every 
where spoken against. Well 3 that is no rule 
for you to hate and persecute them; know 
you not the religion of the Apostles was every 
where spoken against, yet it was the Truth ; 
and after that way which men called heresy 
worshipped they the God of their fathers ? For 
the true Christian worship which Christ set 
up, was to differ from that in the mount of 
Samaria, and that at the temple of Jerusalem 
too ; must Christ therefore be persecuted I 



218 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

<• O ! how blind and ignorant is this genera- 
tion, that ye should again run into the same 
error of the Pharisees, to condemn the old 
persecutors, and prove new ones yourselves, 
and persecute the same life, as it comes to rise 
in any, to witness against you and your lusts, 
as they and their fathers did ! and so ye ma- 
nifest yourselves still to be of the same race 
and stock, and to be born of the same estranged 
flesh, that always persecuted such as were born 
after the Spirit. And as they brought upon 
them all the righteous blood that was spilt 
from Abel to Zacharias, so you are about to 
bring upon you and upon your children, all 
the righteous blood from Abel to this day." 

After alluding to the prophecy in the Apo- 
calypse, relative to the reign of the beast 
during 1260 years, and expressing his opinion 
that the time was at hand, when Christ's king- 
dom should be more conspicuous on the earth; 
and that the power of man would be as unable 
to oppose it, as to stop the ebbing and flowing 
of the sea, or turn the sun or moon from their 
courses ; the Author thus states, and comments 
on, the grounds alleged by the Magistrates 
for the persecution of the Quakers. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 219 

"And now, friends, I come more particu- 
larly to capitulate with you, the Magistrates 
and people of Groninghen, having before me 
four papers, all given out against a people 
called Quakers, and appearing to come all 
from one spirit, though it is sad to say and to 
think, that men called Magistrates, and a city 
called Christian, nay reformed, should have 
such horrible work found therein as I found 
in two or three days' stay in your city, and 
find in your papers. And because two of 
these papers come from you that are the 
Magistrates, I think it good to say something 
to them. First, the one is a sentence given 
to several citizens, the other to some not being 
citizens, whom you had imprisoned, in which 
you have warned the citizens to meet no more 
in such meetings as they have done, and the 
other to come no more in the city to such 
meetings, and both upon the threatening of 
further punishment : and that the reader may 
the better understand where this sentence and 
threatening takes its rise, I shall set down the 
sentence verbatim, and then Avrite something 
to it by way of inquiry. 

" The First complaint is unreverent beha- 
viour: Secondly, that he is called a Quaker: 
t 2 



220 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Thirdly, that he was lately at a Meeting : 
Fourthly, that it was the more to divulge hurt- 
ful and pernicious errors and spirit's drivings : 
and upon these you say, that such forbidden 
conventicles and dangerous sects must not be 
suffered, but punished in a well governed 
Republic; and therefore } r ou insinuate, that if 
he comes any more at the Quakers' meeting, 
he must be looked upon as disobedient and 
rebellious, and be dealt with accordingly. 

"Now, friends, to the first, What was the 
unreverent behaviour? Did you shew them 
a law which they would not be subject to? 
Came they not at your summons, in which 
they acknowledged you Magistrates ? And 
stood they not attentively to hear what you 
said ? Gave they not to you necessary answers 
to your questions? But it seems they put not 
off their hats — Was that an offence to you ? 
Alas ! that men of understanding should no 
more regard their reputations, than to take 
offence at such a thing, when there is neither 
law of God nor nations, nor of your own city, 
that requires it. You should have made a 
law first that they must do so, and then for 
your part you had done like an Ahasuerus. 
There was something to say for bowing, vis. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 221 

the King's commandment, the King's author- 
ity: — What ! Mordecai, wilt thou not bow ? the 
King commands it. Well, but Mordecai cannot 
bow if he dies for it; then you know who set 
up the gallows — he that was angry because he 
was not bowed to. 

"Were not these things written for your 
and our learning? ye never find in Scripture 
that the Christians called it unreverent beha- 
viour to have their hats upon the head ; and 
the three children had their hats on in the 
furnace : do ye think they put on their hats to 
be cast into the furnace, or had they them not 
on when they stood before the king? And 
then this great king came to the mouth of the 
furnace, and saw them walk with their hats 
on. Why did not they pull off their hats to 
the king ? But neither Christians nor heathens 
have you for example in this matter, except 
the apostate Christians in this time of the 
reign of the beast, in which he hath set up his 
worship instead of God's; but in this parti- 
cular, I think the law is not yet made, that I 
know of, that commands folks to put off their 
hats ; and where there is no law, there is no 
transgression. 

t 3 



222 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" But what is the matter here is such offence 
taken about the hat? Is there any worship 
therein? If so, that belongs to God, and to no 
man. Is there any honour therein ? If so, the 
receiving honour from one another is that 
"which hindered the Pharisees and Jews from 
receiving the faith of Jesus, as you may read : 
so what part is that in you which is so highly 
offended ? Is it not come of the same line and 
stock with Nimrod, that hunted before the 
Lord, when he ought to have come after; and 
Esau the profane man, that was wroth with 
him that had the blessing, though he himself 
had sold him his birth-right; and of the stock 
of Haman, and Jezebel, and Nebuchadnezzar, 
and Herod, and Nero, and Dioclesian, and. 
Maximilian, and others that might be named, 
among whom this principle of seeking wor- 
ship and honour to themselves, halh stood 
always high ; to whom the royal seed of God 
could never bow. 

*'And which think you now was the best 
sort— Abel or Cain ? Nimrod, or the sons of 
God that were in those days ? Jacob or Esau ? 
Haman or Mordecai? Jezebel, or Elijah that 
could not yield to her nor fear her ? Nebucbad- 
-Bezzar, or Shadrach Meshach and AbednegoS 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 223 

Christ and his disciples, or Herod and Pilate ? 
who could not agree till they went to crucifying 
the just; and then, the Scripture saith, they 
were made friends ; then they could agree. 
And Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Aurelius, Se- 
nerius, Maximus, Deinius, Valerian, Au- 
relian, Diocletian, what thiRk ye of these? 
Were not they better that did not yield to them, 
than they themselves were, and they that did 
yield ? It may be you will say, Yea, but these 
were heathens. To that I answer, that perse- 
cution for conscience and religion's sake, and 
forcing the conscience to the wills of men, is 
one and the same work in itself, whoever doth 
it; but it is two fold worse in one called 
Christian, than in a heathen. For your being 
called Christians or Christian Magistrates, gives 
you no more power over other men's consci- 
ences, than heathens had ; for that is God's 
throne in mankind; and He will not give this 
prerogative to any, but to his Son Jesus ; and 
woe to them that rob Him of it, for He will 
have his own glory, and spoil theirs too. 

" Secondly, The thing is, he is one called a 
Quaker. I answer, what crime is that, to be 
called a Quaker — seeing the Quakers are 
Jbiown through the world to be harmless^ and 



224: REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

clear of wronging any kingdom, land, or city, 
or private person? Their principle is, to 
fear God, and to do justly, and to keep their 
conscience unspotted ; so this is neither crime 
nor disparagement to be called a Quaker, but 
rather a crown and rejoicing. For upon that 
sort of men have always the blessing rested, 
that trembled at the Word of the Lord, as you 
maj- read. — And they that mock at trembling 
and quaking shall know a day of hording and 
lamenting, in which they shall tremble and 
quake, and wish to die our death, though they 
despise our life. And, besides, you have no law 
against a man for being called a Quaker ; and 
so here is no transgression yet. 

" Thirdly, Tiie thing is^that he was lately 
at a Meeting of the Quakers. Answer. Is that 
a crime ? against what law is that ? And when 
was it published, and in what book of record 
can we find that law that forbids the being at 
a Quakers' Meeting — seeing you are within 
the compass of the Seven United Provinces, 
that are spoken of so far, for granting liberty 
of conscience ? If you are not of that mind, 
why do you not publish yourselves to be of 
another mind ? What ! have you forgot your 
fathers and grandfathers already, that suffered 



OF STEPHEN CRISP., 225 

so deeply to purchase liberty of conscience, 
and spent so much blood and treasure, and 
implored the aid of foreign Protestant princes, 
which was plenteously given them, that they 
might, above all things, leave you this inherit- 
ance ; to wit, liberty of conscience to meet toge- 
ther and worship God as you were or should 
be persuaded ? and now you are robbing and 
spoiling one another of this inheritance. 

" What, are you framing again the old rotten 
pieces of Duke d' Alva's yoke, to put it upon 
the necks of your brethren, to tell them what 
Meetings they must go to, and what they must 
believe, and what religion they must be of ? 
O friends ! away with this work ; or else it 
will make a stench in the nostrils of the na- 
tions, and of your neighbours ; and, besides, it 
will bring a curse a^nd a blasting upon you. 

" Fourthly ', But then you say, this Meeting 
was for the divulging and spreading of hurt- 
ful and pernicious errors, and the Spirit's lead- 
ing, &c. Now, friends, these words are either 
true or false. If they are true that such things 
are divulged at our Meetings, why do not you 
or your teachers manifest what these pernici- 
ous errors are, that people may know thenij 



226 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and how they are opposite to the Holy Scrip- 
ture? For if you do not do this, your bare assert- 
ing them to be so, will hardly carry authority 
with it to make people believe it, except the 
rude tumultuous rabble, that is readier to be- 
lieve lies than truth ; and indeed your au- 
thority may prevail further with them to stir 
them up against the Truth, than it will to 
keep them in the band of sobriety, and from 
tilling the streets with tumults and uproars. 

" But if you intend the sober sort should 
believe you, then discover particularly what 
these hurtful and pernicious doctrines are, and 
how they are against the Scriptures of Truth ; 
and if you cannot do it, set your priests at 
work to do it: they have wages enough to en- 
gage them to serve you, if they be not too 
high for you ; and when you and they have 
done that, we will have no more Meetings in 
Groninghen, but will come over to you, and 
take up your religion, if that appears to be 
blameless and according to the Scripture : but 
till this be done, we cannot believe men's 
words, especially such men as, in contempt to 
the Spirit's leading, persecute us for owning 
the leadings of the Spirit. For shame, call this 
word in again ! Were not all that ever were 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 22T 

sons of God, led by the Spirit of God? And 
did not the saints of old walk after the Spirit ? 
And did not the Apostle teil them, if they did 
so, they should live ? And what now ! must we 
be persecuted for being led and guided, and 
drawn, and constrained by the Spirit? O abo- 
minable ! If you had been born of the Spirit 
you could not have written so ; but being 
born of the flesh, persecution is as natural to 
you as it hath been to such in former ages ; 
but the same spirit that persecutes us for the 
leading of the Spirit, and mocks at us for the 
witnessing of the Spirit, is that which perse- 
cuted Christ Jesus, in whom this Holy Spirit 
lived without measure, that now liveth in us 
in measure : so we know we are not greater 
than our Lord ; and if we patiently suffer for 
his sake, He will plead our cause with our 
enemies. 

u But, friends, I do charge these words upon 
you to be false, and do require you, in the 
name of the Lord, to prove them true if you 
can, and let us know what those errors are; for 
I do absolutely deny the matter of fact where- 
with you charge us, and that our meeting 
then, or at any other time, is for any such 
intent or purpose ; so we shall leave it in the 



228 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

sight of God and men, till we hear more par- 
ticularly what hurtful and pernicious errors 
are charged against us. 

" And where you say such things may not 
be tolerated in a well governed Common- 
wealth, but ought to be punished, &c. do 
you mean here your own Republic, that you 
are so zealous to preserve in good order ? If 
so, I ask if drunkenness, and swearing, and 
ballad-singers, and rope-dancers, and mounte- 
banks with their jests and mockeries, and all 
such things as gaming and fighting, &c. if these 
may be tolerated in such a Republic, nay coun- 
tenanced ? Do not your streets swarm with 
ballad-singers, and every one or two of them 
gets several great meetings in a day ; some of 
them singing such horrible, bawdy, filthy 
things, as would I believe make the prostitutes 
in Rome and Venice blush for shame; see 
" Stemme V or man Jop" for one, with several 
others that I found in your city. And is this 
the Republic that is so well governed, that the 
people of God may not innocently meet toge- 
ther in it, to wait upon God, and to exhort 
one another, and build up one another in the 
faith of Christ, the Light, but they must be 
punished ? 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 229 

" O friends ! if either men or women had 
not lost shame and modesty, such cursed, abo- 
minable things could never be permitted in 
your hearts to be sung. These things do not 
shew you to be such a well governed republic, 
but your judgment is turned backward ; and 
while you seek to terrify them that do well, 
you are the countenancers of all manner of li- 
centious and ungodly persons,upon whom your 
sword ought to lie. 

" And as for your threatening, we have only 
this to say, we shall do nothing in contempt of 
you or your authority, and we hope we shall 
not forbear the doing of any thing that the 
Lord our God requires at our hands, knowing 
that it is better to obey God than man, and 
having learned of Christ, who said : I will tell 
you whom you shall fear : Fear not them that 
can only kill the body, and can go no farther, 
but fear Him that can kill both soul and body, 
and can cast them into hell. So our cause is 
before the Lord ; let Him do with us or suffer 
others to do with us as He pleaseth ; for his 
will is good, and we are given up to do and 
suffer his will. And if any men be our ene- 
mies for the Truth's sake, we dare not but love 
and pity them ; and when they know what 



230 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

they do, they will do so no more; and, in the 
mean time, the Lord God of heaven support 
us by his power and living presence, in 
which is that life that we have hungered 
after." 

The Author then notices some scurrilous 
and filthy songs, which had been sung about 
the streets of Groninghen, and observes : " As 
to us, we can well bear such things. Drunkards 
made songs of David, and the rebellious of old 
chaunted to the viol, and drank their wine in 
bowls, but forgot the affliction of Joseph.' 1 

Pie thus concludes his address : 

" So, friends, I have, with as much brevity 
as may be, touched on these things ; and what 
I have written, I have written in an universal 
love to you all ; and do desire, that I may hear 
that you grow wiser and more considerate ; 
and not like a company of mad people, run on 
heaps, you know not wherefore ; but as you 
are called Christians, and reformed ones too, 
shew forth fruits of sobriety ; and if your 
priests think that any in your city are deluded, 
if they be spiritual, let them take their spiri- 
tual weapons, and convince them in love and 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 231 

tenderness; and not shew themselves so like 
the shrine-makers at Epbesus, to cry, Ilelp^meti 
of Israel! so they cry, Help, Sckout ! and, 
Help, Burgher-masters ! and, Help, wild and 
rude people, and boys in the street ! 

" O ! shame of these things, and let your 
priests buckle on their armour like men, and 
maintain their church, and doctrine, and reli- 
gion to be apostolical; and let us have liberty 
to dispute in their synagogues every Sabbath- 
day, as it was in the Apostles' time; and if any 
on their part, or on ours, offer violence, let the 
Schout lay his hand upon such. For methinks 
it is a pitiful case, that you that are burghers, 
shop-keepers, and merchants, and the like, 
should be fain to help the learned Divines, so 
called, in a matter of religion, and that you* 
must use your civil power to defend them and 
their religion, against their adversaries and 
antagonists, when they come against them, with 
nothing but arguments and Scripture, and such 
like weapons. 

" Consider these things, and stand still a little 
in coolness; and God will open your under- 
standings, and give you wisdom how to do in 
this matter ; so as that the Lord may bless you 
u 2 



232 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and your city, and you may all endeavour, in 
your respective places, to stop the flood of 
iniquity and wickedness, and so prevent the 
curse of God, which otherwise hangs over 
your heads." 



No. 19. " Address to the Baptists in Hol- 
land, with a Query for them to answer" No 
date. — 4 pages. 

This Tract appears to have arisen out of a 
conference with several Baptists. 

The question is as follows : 

a That whereas the Apostle in his epistle to 
the Ephesians, Eph. iv. 5, saith, There is one 
Lord, one Faith, one Baptism ; I asked what 
that one baptism was ? Whether the apostle 
in this place did intend that baptism which in 
Scripture is called the baptism of John, which 
I confessed was with outward water, or whe- 
ther he intended the baptism of the holy 
Ghost, which in Scripture is called the bap- 
tism of Christ; and I urging and pressing for 
an answer, you told me you could not tell. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 233 

u Now, friends, this thing is needful to be 
known, both by you and us, and by all men; 
therefore consider it: If thebaptismbebut one 
and you be ignorant of that one, then have 
you none, or as ill as none ; for if it be but 
one, and you take up another thing in the 
stead of that one, it is impossible it can pro- 
duce that effect which the one true baptism 
would do ; and consequently is as bad as 
none. So search yourselves, friends, for by 
your discourse you have given me ground to 
suspect you are as much strangers to the one 
faith, that gave the saints a victory over the 
world, as you are to the one baptism that makes 
clean the conscience, and is the answer of a 
good conscience in the sight of God. 1 Ptlcr, 
iii. 21. And where these two are wanting, 
and their effects, there is nothing enjoyed or 
known, that is profitable to salvation. And 
though men talk of these things, and make 
profession of them; yet where their fruits do 
not appear, it is manifest the things themselves 
are not there, but bare talk. So, friends, search 
your hearts, and consider your ways, and turn 
your minds to the Light of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, who is the true Light that enlighteneth 
every one that cometh into the world. And 
as you wa : t in that, it will give you an under- 
u 3 



234 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

standing in things you yet know not, and 
make you able, in simplicity, to answer this 
question, and also make you partakers of this 
one baptism j which is my hearty desire for 
you." 



No. 20. ll A Testimony concerning Edward 
Graunt" No date. — 3 pa* 



iQ-es. 



This is a short notice of an honest and pious 
Friend, who appears to have met his end by 
the violent abuse of a company of troopers, 
who found him, with a few other persons, 
quietly met together for the purpose of wor- 
ship. As it is said, "the troopers came riding 
upon them," I conclude the Friends had been 
excluded from their house, and were assembled 
in the street, as near to it as possible. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 235 

No. 21. " An Epistle from Stephen Crisp, 
when a Prisoner ." No date. — 4 pages. 

This is almost a song of triumph. The pri- 
soner seems to lose sight of his outward bonds ? 
in contemplating the liberty with which God 
had made him free. The style, particularly 
of the Introduction, is highly figurative and 
poetic. As the Epistle is short, I shall extract 
it without curtailment. 

" O ye lambs of the green pasture ! ye sheep 
of my Father's fold ! ye who by the word of 
life, are made acquainted with the power of 
regeneration, and are born into the nature of 
the Lamb's innocency, and grown up in the 
virtue of sincerity — O, how glorious is your 
appearance ! Mine eyebeholdeth, and my heart 
is ravished; my soul shall praise the God of 
ray life for ever and ever, on your behalf. 
From the hill have I viewed you, and from the 
high tower of my refuge have I looked on you. 
My eye is opened ; and I see you the flock of 
undented lambs, in whom my God is glorified. 
O ! feed ye, and be ye nourished ; for your pas- 
tures are enlarged, and your Shepherd's care 
is over you. His arm is able to defend you 
from every beast of the field. By day will He 



236 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

feed you in his pleasant pastures ; and by 
night will He fold you in a fold of rest. 

" O my beloved friends ! this is the day of 
which wc have spoken, and in which not only 
(he words, but the nature must be manifested. 
And ye Mho bear the Lamb's image, and grow 
in his nature, iirst being proved, shall be pre- 
served and delivered; and in the day of trial 
feel the word of patience; fur that stayeth the 
thoughts, and keepelh satisfied in the present 
state. And here is the glory of the saints, who 
only of all the children of men, can glory in 
tribulation, and can grow then in patience. 
Now doth the glory of Sion's daughters ap- 
pear to be within them ; and their strength is 
a continual spring, whereby her sons arc armed 
with power, to tread down change and altera- 
tions, and dwell in the dominion over trouble. 
Glory, glory, to the God of our strength, who 
keepethus — who guardeth Israel — whoarmeth 
his chosen ones, and leads them to the battle — 
and keeps our Lead covered therein, that the 
enemy cannot wound it 

" And here, my dearly beloved brethren and 
sisters, in the generation of our endless posteri- 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 237 

ty, is my unity with you preserved. Though by 
locks and bars I be separated outwardly from 
you; yet, by the invisible Sowings of life, I do 
reach you, and am felt by you, in that Eternal 
Spirit which quickens and gives life to every 
member of the Church of Christ. 

" This present separation is for trial of our 
faith, love, and patience, that through exer- 
cise they may be perfected, and we all may 
learn the heavenly and internal knowledge ? 
sense, and feeling, one of another, by sinking 
into, and waiting in the Spirit of the Father, 
by which the whole body is knit and united 
together : and whosoever knows us not in this, 
is not truly of us ; for, as we have said, decla- 
rations and prophecies must cease ; but the 
Word which begets and gives life, abides for 
ever ; and is the daily bread which is set before 
the mercy seat, in the house of our God, of 
which none may eat, but those who are sanc- 
tified, washed, and clean, according to the Law; 
and are witnesses of the offering that makes 
atonement. And these may now feed toge- 
ther, being nourished, and may grow strong, 
as well as ever ; because the enemy cannot 
rob you of your food and your water. 



238 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Therefore eat, O friends ! and drink abun- 
dantly of the new wine, well refined. Let 
your hearts be glad, and let your souls rejoice 
in the promise ; for this is the day of the 
Lamb's battle; and the day of his victory is 
near at hand, wherein the carcases must be 
buried out of sight, and all dead worship and 
without life, put under; and the living worship 
of the living God must be exalted more and 
more. Therefore, rejoice ye, and I say again, v re- 
joice. Let your hearts be strong, O my beloved 
friends! and comfort ye yourselves therein, 
and one another, and love one another. Let the 
spirit of love abound in you, one towards 
another, in how much ye see the enemy seeks 
to discomfort you. 

tl Mark the weak among you in true love 
and compassion. Beware of the wiles of those 
that are crafty, who seek to lead from the sim- 
plicity of the Gospel. Keep your testimony 
alive in all things wherein ye are required by 
the Lord, and be not terrified at all that is or 
may come to pass. And the God of Peace 
and Power, of eternal Love and Truth, pre- 
serve you all faithful to the end, to the ever- 
lasting consolation of your souls, and glory of 
his great Name j for the sake whereof He hath 



Gp STEPHEN CliiSP. 239 

saved us, and delivered us, and will yet deliver 
us : to whom be everlasting praises, and holy 
thanksgiving, for ever and ever. Amen. 

"Stephen Chisp." 



No. 22. " An Epistle from Stephen Crisp to 
Friends ." No date. — 6 pages. 

This is an Epistle of general advice, and 
contains some excellent practical matter, as 
will be evinced by the following extracts, vis. 

" Dear Friends ! this is a certain saying, and 
worthy to be believed: That all temptations 
to evil, both inward and outward, of what sort 
soever they be, do spring from that power 
which God will in time bring down, and break 
to pieces, for his Seed's sake. And they that 
abide low in the lowly seed, shall behold their 
deliverance with rejoicing, and shall bless the 
God of their salvation for ever. But if any 
one, in the hour of temptation, lifts up himself 
above that tender principle that teacheth a 
whole dependence upon God; then such an 
one seems wise and strong in his own eyes, 
but by and by falleth into the snare of the 



240 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

enemy ; and then sees bis own weakness and 
folly, it may be when it is too late. Therefore 
let every one be kept in the pure fear of God, 
waiting daily to feel his strength renewed 
through the Spirit of Christ, that worketh in us" 
both the will and also the deed. And such as 
have their sole dependence upon God in the 
faith of his Son, take no care how to pass 
through the trials and difficulties of their day ; 
but, as children of a tender Father, they cast 
their care upon God, who cares for them, for 
his Name's sake, and brings them through and 
over all, in his own time and manner ; and 
then have such experience, and can speak a 
word to the weary soul, from the sense of what 
God hath done for them. 

" So, dear hearts, now you know the way of 
God, walk in it, with an upright and an hum- 
ble mind ; and let your cries arise to God for 
the planting and spreading his Name; and 
let your life so shine in the beauty of holiness, 
that the mouths of all Truth's enemies maybe 
stopped ; and the sober inquirers after the 
Truth, may be reached by your faithfulness 
and innocency, which is the loudest trumpet 
that can sound out God's praise in the earth. 
And without this life, all preaching and tes- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 241 

timony is to no purpose, but tends to the con- 
demnation of them that make profession of 
that they enjoy not. 

" And, dear hearts, love one another with 
the same love wherewith the Lord hath loved 
you; which is that love that forgives tres- 
passes, and covers offences. And hereby ye 
will always have a sense of each other's life and 
sincerity, and be tender over tbe good in one 
another, and travail for one another's growth 
and prosperity. For this love teacheth to lay 
no burdens upon one another, but to help to bear 
each other's burdens, as Christ Jesus hath 
taught. And while this love dwells in your 
hearts, there is no roomfor evil thoughts, nor for 
jealousies, nor evil surmisings. But whatever 
is seen in another that is not right, this love 
constrains the one to deal uprightly with the 
other ; and the other feeling the virtue of this 
love, is constrained thereby to submit to the 
word of exhortation for the Lord's sake, 
and so both are comforted and refreshed 
together. 

" And, friends, wait diligently, daily to 
feel the life of your testimony renewed in 
your souls ; that ye may know the way of God 



242 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

to be still the new and the living way. And 
this will keep you from fainting, by reason of 
the length of time that ye bear the cross, and 
sufferings, and reproach of the Gospel ; for 
when your life and inward consolation is re- 
newed, as well as your exercises and trials, 
there can be no weariness. 

"And this keeps out of all dead formality, 
which all other professors fall into when they 
have lost the life of their testimony, when they 
retain a formal profession, which stands in 
words and outward things, which neither 
pleases God, nor brings comfort to their 
souls. 

" But you, dearly beloved, wait in diligence 
for the dew of heaven, daily to water the plant 
of God, that ye may be fruitful to Him that 
hath planted you, and may receive his bless- 
ings in your bosoms, in your families, and in 
your meetings, and your souls may praise his 
Name for ever. 

" So, dear friends, the God of my life bless 
you, preserve and prosper you, in his blessed 
testimony, to which He hath called you; and 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 2i3 

strengthen 3 r ou, and give you wisdom, so to 
■walk as ye have heard and learned from the 
beginning ; that, in the end, ye may rest in 
Him, with all the faithful. 

" This is the earnest breathing and desire of 
j/our Friend, in the fellowship of the Gos- 
pel of Peace. 

" Stephen Crisp." 



244 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

No. 23. " An Epistle from S. Crisp to 
Friends in the North.'" J. Whiting's Catalogue 
dates it 1670. — 6 pages. 

This is an Epistle of general exhortation 
and congratulation to Friends, on their being 
preserved in " the faith and patience of 
Jesus." 

The Author had laboured much in the 
North of England, and felt an apostolic care 
over the converts. He thus exhorts them to 
an entire devotion to God : 

" And, dear friends and brethren, remem- 
ber to keep holy the Sabbath of your rest in 
Christ, which is now come, and see that you 
rest from your labours, and from toiling your 
spirits in the earth and earthly things ; and 
whoever feels a burden, lay it off, whatever 
it be, that ye may possess all things in the free 
Spirit, that looks not at the value of any thing 
in comparison of the Truth, remembering the 
words of our Lord, That zohere the treasure 
is, the heart will also be. So that those whose 
heart is in a wife, in a husband, in children, 
in trade, in riches, in house and lands, or 
whatever else, so far that they cannot willingly 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 245 

give them up for the Truth, these are such an 
one's treasure ; and this treasure is in the 
earth ; and the heart is there, whatever they 
profess. And these things come to be gods 
in the secret chambers, besides the Lord ; and 
so his first and lasting commandment, who 
said, Thou shalt have no other god besides 
Me, is broken ; and this brings guilt and bur- 
dens upon the soul, and then thou canst not 
keep the spiritual Sabbath to God ; for no 
burden must be borne thereon. But he that is 
entered into the rest, is ceased from his own 
works, as God did from his ; and such keep 
the Sabbath holy. 

{l So, dearly beloved, cast away that labour 
and toil, which hath made some to walk un- 
comfortably in the way, and some to faint and 
fall from it; and lift up your hearts to God in 
the faith, and give up yourselves and all things 
to his will; and there comes an end of all your 
cares, saving only to be found doing his will, 
in your generation. 

" And in this blessed service is my joy and 
my fellowship with you, and all the faithful 
in Christ Jesus, in whose love my heart is, at 
this time, enlarged towards you, beyond what 

x3 



246 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

words can utter. Yet having no new thing to 
write to you, but the very same which we have 
heard and learned from the beginning, to wit, 
that glorious testimony of the resurrection of 
life and of salvation, which God, through the 
manifestation of his Son, hath committed unto 
us to bear. In this blessed testimony I still 
labour in the strength of the Lord ; and He 
hath blessed me therein, and caused me, by 
the operation of his Divine Love, to sound the 
same Gospel unto several countries and nations 
in the eastern parts of the world ; where a 
door of utterance is opened unto me, and 
many have believed and obeyed the Truth." 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 247 

No. 24. " An Epistle from Stephen Crisp to 
Friends in the Eastern parts." No date. — 
3 pages. 

This is an Epistle of affectionate caution. 



No. 25. " Another Epistle from S. Crisp to 
Friends." No date. — 5 pages. 

This Epistle appears, from the following ex- 
tracts, to have been written to a company of 
Friends in some foreign country. The latter 
part of the extracts affords a striking proof of 
the tendency of persecution to promote, ra- 
ther than to check, what it is intended to 
suppress. 

" In the fellowship of that pure Spirit by 
which the Lord hath reached unto us, and 
quickened us, and brought us from that sleep 
and death of sin, and made us sensible of a 
life that is eternal — in this holy fellowship, I 



248 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

say, doth my soul dearly salute you ; earn- 
estly breathing unto God, who is our Foun- 
tain, that He may daily multiply his grace, 
mercy, and peace upon you, and in you all; 
and may, by the influence of his good Spirit 
and blessed presence, make up unto you, that 
which others in England and elsewhere do 
enjoy, and you want ; viz. the many precious 
opportunities of being comforted together in 
our general and large Meetings, and the large 
Sowings forth of the Spirit in the ministers of 
the Gospel. 

" But, friends, the Lord our God can be 
all, and will be all, in all unto you that trust 
in Him ; and this know, you are often in our 
remembrance, and that Spirit of Life that is in 
us, doth often bring you to mind for good, as 
members of the same body, nourished by the 
same bread by which we live. And, my dear 
friends, your testimony for God, in that howl- 
ing wilderness, where Sion, our mother, and 
all her children are yet in suffering, is very dear 
and precious in the sight of God, and of me 
his servant. I have, with comfort and refresh- 
ment to myself and many brethren, been drawn 
forth to speak of what I saw and felt among 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 249 

you, as to your patient and joyful suffering 
for the Gospel's sake, in -which you have 
believed. 

<c And now, dear hearts, go on in the name 
of the Lord, till your testimony is accom- 
plished, and let your trust be alone in God, 
"who hitherto hath made way for you beyond 
expectation; and will still take the care of 
you, as a father over his children : and have a 
care that nothing be suffered or permitted 
among you, that hurts your testimony for God 
and his blessed Name. O friends ! it is more 
worth than our lives ; for this is the day in 
which God is making known, through us, unto 
the world, that there is a Power able to keep 
them that trust in it, in the path of righteous- 
ness and holiness. 

(i And, dear friends, let none be weary of 
tribulations, knowing that the glory of God 
and the Gospel is thereby advanced ; and the 
seed that is sown in this generation through 
sufferings, shall come up in the next, in great 
glory and dominion. Therefore be of good 
courage ; your work, service, tribulations, and 
afflictions, will never be forgotten. 



250 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" And, dear friends, I came lately out of 
England, where there is the greatest addition 
and increase of the Church of God, that ever 
mine eyes beheld ; and the occasion of it, as 
to the outward, is a certain law that is made 
to plunder Friends* goods, for meeting and 
preaching; 40/. sterling for preaching, except 
the first time, which is 20/. ; and 20/. the house 
where the meeting is, and 10s. every one that 
meets. And hereupon many Friends have 
been spoiled of their goods ; and their bold- 
ness, steadfastness, faithfulness, and courage, 
have astonished the nation from the greatest 
to the least ; and many have believed ; and 
many officers and magistrates choose rather to 
suifer themselves, than to execute the law. So 
that Truth's prosperity is very eminent in that 
nation, and in Scotland and Ireland. There 
is also a great increase : and remember, my 
dear lambs, ye are the first fruits unto our God 
in these countries ; that is your crown ; wear 
it honourably, and suffer for the remainder of 
the seed, in meekness and patience ; and com- 
mit the work to God, who will break through 
the nations in his great power, and will make 
our innocency shine as the sun. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 251 

" So, dear lambs, God Almighty preserve 
you to Himself, and comfort and guide you as 
a Shepherd, and feed and satisfy you with 
heavenly refreshment. This is the desire of 
my soul for you ; and I know it is your de- 
sire. And I know God doth and will hear 
the supplications and cries of his own ; and 
in this confidence and faith, I remain your 
true and real friend in the Gospel of Peace. 

" Stephen Crisp." 



252 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

No. 26. "To the Rulers and Inhabitants in 
Holland, and the rest of the United Provinces. 

(From the original Manuscript of a Book in Dutch, 
called, The Ground and Cause of the Misery of the 
Netherlands.") 

Although this Address may be considered 
as of a local and temporary character, it con- 
tains so much valuable matter, relative to the 
connexion between the prosperity and virtue 
of nations, that I shall make pretty copious 
extracts from it. The Tract derives addi- 
tional interest from the subsequent spoliations 
to which the Dutch have been subjected, and 
the strange downfall of their political power, 
since that period, when the " high and mighty 
Lords of Holland" were courted as allies, and 
dreaded as enemies, by the principal govern- 
ments of Europe. 

He opens his Address with the following 
lively description of the state of the people : 

" O Holland, and the adjacent Provinces, a 
renowned land, a land full of riches, full of 
people, full of religions, and full of all ini- 
quity ! O ! what lamentation shall I take up 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 253 

over thee, O Netherlands ! My soul is afflicted 
for thee, and my heart is rilled with sorrow 
concerning thy state. How is distress and 
anguish come upon thee ere thou art aware ! 
And how are thy bowels filled with confusion 
and distraction, breakings and shatterings on 
every side. Thy wise men and rulers have 
lost their ancient policy, and thy whole land 
hath lost that unity in which thy glorying 
was; and misery is broken in upon thee like 
a sea, and there are no banks to keep it out. 
Thy strong holds have been, and are still, but 
snares to thee, and gins of thy own preparing, 
wherein thou art catched and taken, and hast 
none to deliver thee. Thy gold and money 
is now no Saviour ; neither availeth it thee that 
thou hast gotten great riches ; for that doth 
but sharpen the force of thy enemies against 
thee. Thy multitude of counsellors is now no 
safety to thee, because they are broken in 
judgment, and confounded and shattered in 
their counsels, every man being joined to 
his own faction, and seeking the promoting 
thereof; thy allies stand afar off, to see what 
will become of thee. 

" O renowned land, of whose fame and great- 
ness the whole world rung ; and all princes 

Y 



254 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and potentates had an eye upon thy affairs 
and prosperity, marvelling whereto it would 
grow! how is thy glory stained — thy name 
and fame decayed— thy beauty turned to 
ashes— thy strength to weakness— thy unity to 
confusion and tumults — thy dread to reproach 
and shame; and the eyes of all potentates now 
looking out at thy fall and desolation, which 
hasteth upon thee! 

" These tilings are greatly to be lamented ; 
and yet is there a greater lamentation over 
thee ; and that is, that few or none have laid 
these things to heart, or sought out the cause 
of this misery, or set a hand to remove it ; but 
the nearer the plagues come, the more do 
pride, looseness, and hardness of heart, fill thy 
land, and cities, and people. Therein few or 
none stand in the gap, few or none plead with 
God by true repentance, and turning from 
those abominations for which the mighty God 
of heaven is come to visit thee ; but thy eyes 
and mind are out at this cause and that cause, 
crying out, this is a traitor, and that is a 
traitor ; and one makes lies, another reports 
and spreads them, and a third proceeds upon 
that as upon afoundation ; and sojudgmentand 
justice is turned backward, and your fingers 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



255 



are made foul with blood, and your hands fall of 
iniquity ; so that your sword cannot prevail, 
nor your designs prosper, until you repent, 
and turn to the hand that smites you. And 
then, on the other hand, how are the eyes of 
the people out at saviours upon the earth, feed- 
ing yourselves with vain and windy hopes, to 
rid yourselves from your calamity by this 
means and that means, setting up one man, and 
pulling down another, calling strangers to 
your assistance, rather than making peace with 
an offended God, whose anger is justly 
kindled against you, because of your abo- 
minations. 

" Another great misery upon thee at this 
time is, that thou hast few or none, to deal 
plainly with thee, in this thy forsaken condi- 
tion ; but thy teachers, who have been the 
great stirrers up of this confusion, and makers 
of parties within thee, are as blind seers that 
can see no way for thy escape ; but are put- 
ting you upon desperate designs, which tend 
more to their own interest and advantage than 
to yours ; so thinking to make an advantage 
of your misery, and build their tower higher 
with your ruin. And in place of telling you 
how you were brought into this condition, and 
y 2 



256 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



how you might come out, they are crying out,, 
that they have been too much despised, and 
their Church counsels too much inspected, 
and their power too much limited and re- 
strained ; and you have given too much liberty 
for people to exercise their consciences in 
matters of religion as they were persuaded, 
though contrary to them and their prescrip- 
tions so that if you will but serve them in 
persecuting their opposers, though more up- 
right than themselves; and if you will but set 
them up, and put more into their mouths, they 
will cry peace to you. O ! beware of such 
blind guides, that see not the danger, nor the 
way to escape it; but such have you too long 
followed, O ye Netherlander ! until now 
both the leaders and the led, the rulers and 
the people, are fallen and falling into a pit" 
together. 

" And now that things are thus far gone, O ! 
that there were yet but an ear to hear counsel, 
that I might have hope concerning you, that 
ye might yet turn to the Lord, and that He 
might have mercy on you before utter ruin 
hath laid you desolate. Yea, a travail is upon 
me for you, that ye might be saved, if it be 
possible, and the decree be not sealed against 



OF STEPHEN CRISF. 257 

yon. And, however, that I may be clear in 
God's sight, and free from the blood of all 
men, it lies upon me to spread a few things by 
way of counsel and consideration, before the 
people of these countries., that the just prin- 
ciple- in all consciences may be reached unto, 
unto which I do appeal ; and they shall testify 
in the day of judgment, in the face of all the 
rebellious, that they were warned, and that 
they rejected counsel." 

He then calls their attention to some of the 
causes of their condition, amongst which, he 
enumerates the hypocrisy that prevailed in the 
land — the loss of that simplicity which dis- 
tinguished their forefathers — of that zeal and 
fervency which formerly appeared for refor- 
mation — and the rendings and tearings that 
obtained amongst them on account of doctrine 
and worship. He then points out the imper- 
fect means which they were using for deliver-^ 
ance, and thus proceeds t 

" Consider what use is at this time made of 
your low estate, that, instead of turning to the 
Lord, whose heavy hand is upon you, and 
passing by offences wherein ye have offended 

¥ 3. 



258 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

each other, and forgiving injuries, and joining 
together in covenant with God, and one ano- 
ther in love, as Christians ought to do ; — I say, 
instead hereof, how is one taking advantage of 
revenge upon another, and bringing forth mis- 
chief and evil against his neighbour and his 
brother, and by all means, true or false, some- 
times seeking the ruin and destruction each one 
of him that is against him, or hath injured him. 

" This is not the way to healthy wounds, O 
Netherlands! but is the way to make thy wounds 
daily bleed afresh, and to give matter to thy 
enemies to rejoice over you, who can so easily 
rejoice and triumph one over another. 

" Far better were it that ye did humble your- 
sel ves.and forgive one another,and seek the pub- 
lic welfare by banishing each one out of his own 
bosom that traitor called wrakesucht, [revenge] 
and enmity, which hath been the ruin of many 
famous countries, and hath begun to ruin yours, 
and will certainly ruin it, if not cast out ; for 
self-interest always breeds contention, and con- 
tention wrakesucht. But the universal love of 
God, which teacheth, in the first place, to give 
no occasion of offence, preserves all societies in 
peace ; and had this universal love of God 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 259 

prevailed in this land, things had not come to 
the pass they are come to : but pride and 
haughtiness went before a fall, and now are 
the lofty fallen ; and they that have been long 
contriving how to get into great honours and 
dignities, are as in a moment fallen. O that 
all that are concerned both in this falling and 
rising, would consider the just hand of God in 
these things ! but let none act in revenge 
against his neighbour, nor his brother ; for ven- 
geance is the Lord's, and He doth and will repay 
it ; and if some magistrates must be turned 
out because they have been exalted, let men 
more humble, more wise, more fearing God, 
and hating covetousness, be nominated in their 
places; and not such as will but step into their 
decaying glory, and withering dignities, and 
there exalt themselves as they have done ; for 
that is the way to bring down more judgments 
and plagues upon this distressed land ; and 
for it always to be unsettled and filled with 
confusion. 

(C It is worth the consideration of all men, 
how the mighty hand of God is manifested in 
this our age, in breaking the decrees and force 
of men, and in overturning all devices which 
are contrived of men, for the settling of their 



260 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

own interest; by which all men ought to learn 
to take heed of binding, or seeking to bind, 
the hand of the Almighty. When was there 
more policy and counsel employed for the 
settling of self-interest than was in England 
against the present king ? And when men's 
bands were at the strongest, then the Lord 
confounded their counsels, and brought him 
over them, whom they had most excluded. 
Yet this served not the rulers of this land for 
a warning, who trusted not so much in the 
Lord for their establishment, if it were his 
will, as in their own edicts and contrivances 
to keep out the young prince of Orange ; and 
how suddenly were all their bands and edicts 
broken ! 

" Therefore, how had all men need to stand 
in awe, and to fear before the Lord ; and everj 
one to act quietly in his own sphere, without 
having regard to self-interest, and endeavour- 
ing to establish it by deep and crafty con- 
trivances, and without having an eye to 
what shall be, except they knew the counsel 
of the Almighty therein. Therefore, O Prince, 
rulers, and people I be wise, sober, and watch- 
ful ; and fear and dread the living God, who 
sees all your thoughts and purposes; and s<t 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. ZOl 

many of your purposes as are contrary to his 
holy, pure, and righteous will, He will either 
prevent and bring to nought, or else suffer to 
come to pass to the hurt and sorrow of the 
purposers thereof. And in both He will glo- 
rify his Name, and make the inhabitants of 
the earth, both high and low, to know that 
He is God, and that there is no God besides 
Him, that can pull down and set up at his 
pleasure; and that arrogancy, pride, and 
cruelty, and oppression, are no more pleasing 
to Him in one man's name or appearance, than 
in another : and that no throne can be esta- 
blished but in righteousness ; nor any counsel 
or government prosper but what is grounded 
upon Justice and Truth, which is the foundation 
of every thing that is fast; and what is not 
built thereupon is easily shaken and removed? 
as experience hath always taught, and doth 
teach : therefore saith wisdom, Prov. viii. 15, 
Bj/ me Kings reign, and Princes decree 
justice, 8?c. and happy is that king, prince} 
and ruler, who takes wisdom for his guide, and 
the fear of God, which is the beginning thereof, 
for his counsellor." 

After expostulating with the Burghers who 
were engaged in the defence of their cities 3 for 
their vicious conduct, he says : 



262 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" Consider also, if it be not high time to 
leave off wickedness, and not multiply ^espe- 
cially when death stands by the door ; and in 
the grave there is no work. And let none say : 
Our city is strong, our burghers are valiant, 
our commanders are true and faithful ; for if 
all these things be so, yet these cannot save 
you ; for the hand of the Lord is above and 
beyond all these things ; and his hand is upon 
you for your sin and iniquity; and from it can 
no man protect nor deliver you ; read Psalm 
cxxvii. 1. Except the Lord keep the city, the 
watchmen watch in vain ; and how can you 
expect the Lord to be a keeper of your cities,, 
when you are daily filling them with those 
things that are abominable in his sight ? May 
He not justly cast you out as a reproach and 
shame before your enemies, who exceed them 
all in profession ; and yet daily increase your 
sins and wickedness. O ! repent, repent, and 
cease to do evil ! and cleanse your hearts and 
purify your hands, ye double-minded, or else 
the hand that is lifted up against you, will 
lay you waste, and none shall be able to de- 
liver you. 

" In the next place, consider what you are 
doing, all you who are daily raising tumults 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 263 

and insurrections in the bowels of this dis- 
tressed land, breaking the bounds of all order 
or moderation, stoning, plundering, and kill- 
ing, and evilly entreating whom you please ; 
yea, your rulers themselves, upon the bare sug- 
gestions of every idle and unruly tongue. What 
do you think will be the effect of these things ? 
How shall your fastings and prayers procure 
a blessing from the righteous God, while 
your hands are full of blood and cruelty, dis- 
order and misrule. Is this you that used to 
be crying out, to those who, for conscience' 
sake, could not in some things be subject to 
the commands of rulers, but rather exposed 
themselves to patient suffering — O ! ye must 
be subject to magistrates ; ye must not rebel 
against authority, nor be seditious ; and such 
like. 

" Where now is your zeal for the authority 
and for the magistrates ? Doth it not appear 
that deceit and hypocrisy have lodged in the 
secret chambers of your hearts ; and now is it 
not manifest that ye regard neither magistrates 
nor authority, but the bringing to pass your 
mad and monstrous wills ? raging as madmen, 
without either bounds or order; tossed like a 
sea, one while one way, another while another, 



264 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

without any stability ; by which you are a 
shame both to your religion and government, 
and a grief to all that have the fear of God be- 
fore their eyes. 

" Were it not better that every one rested 
in quietness and in peace, waiting upon God, 
to see Him bring down and set up at his plea- 
sure; and discerning of God, (who is the 
Fountain of wisdom to endue your Prince and 
Rulers with wisdom,) how to remove evil men 
out of authority, and to place better in their 
places, and you to continue in obedience to 
the power of God, wronging no man, and 
abusing no man ? Would not this be a speedier 
way to bring down a blessing upon you, and 
your land and government, and to stop the 
proceedings of your enemies, than by filling 
the land with tumults and uproars, with vio- 
lence and cruelties. To that of God in all con- 
sciences I speak; let that answer me. 

" And now the bands of government are 
broken among you, and must be again made 
up, or else you must inevitably perish. Let 
every one, both high and low, consider what 
government in itself is ; that so ye may, from 
the true original thereof proceed every one to 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 265 

know your place in the creation, both how to 
rule and to be ruled. 

" The apostle Paul saitb, The powers that 
be, are of God ; but that power by which a 
magistrate becomes a tyrant, or a subject be- 
comes a rebel, that is not of God, but of Satan, 
who is the author of evil ; but the power that 
is of God leaves neither ruler nor subject to 
the liberty of their own will, but limits both 
to the will of God ; so that the magistrate hath 
no power to command evil to be done, because 
he is a magistrate ; and the subject hath no li- 
berty to do evil, because a magistrate doth 
command it ; but both must be subject to the 
supreme power of God, if they will be happy, 
for that is the ground of happiness. Now this 
power as it is in God, is incomprehensible, 
and without limit or end ; but as it is manifest 
in the sons and daughters of men, it is the pale 
and limit that stands between all good and 
evil actions ; and all good that is done, is done 
in it, and all evil that is done, is done with- 
out it. 

" And this power stands in all men, as a 
fixed, settled principle to rule them, and to 
give them law in every action and word, what 
z 



266 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

they must do, and what they must forbear ; 
and he that acts by and within the compass of 
this, lie hath no cause to fear the power of the 
magistrate, because he hath unity with it ; for 
his sword is his praise, and a terror to those 
that do evil. And therefore God, who is a 
God of order and peace, hath made known 
this just and equal principle, called Power, 
Wisdom, Light, Truth, Justice, &c. in every 
man, both high and low, that men might live 
in order and in peace upon the face of the 
earth. 

tl By this the Ruler knows it is not good to 
be fierce, cruel, or injurious : and also that 
if he were a Subject, he would not be so done 
unto.. By this the Subject knows he ought not 
to be stubborn, rebellious, or treacherous; 
and that if he were a Ruler he would not be 
so done unto. So, as long as this blessed 
principle of God is submitted to both by rulers 
and people, so long they are a blessing, com- 
fort, and strength, one to another, and not 
longer. For the power in the Ruler is one 
with the power in the Subject ; and whosoever 
turns from the power, the power turns against 
him, and the unity is broken j and instead 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 26T 

of peace and tranquillity, there is discord and 
trouble. 

u Therefore happy and blessed are the prince 
and people, who are both subject to the higher 
power, which is the power of God ; for such 
feel perfect love and unity one with another, 
and the prince commands in obedience to 
God, and the subject obeys for God 1 s sake, 
and not out of fear ; and a government and a 
rule builded upon this foundation, and kept 
here, shall always prosper. Here no man 
seeks to vassalize his fellow creature to his 
own will, and no man counts obedience to his 
lawful Prince a vassalage ; but both serve 
God ia their several places with cheerfulness. 
And how happy would such a nation be, and 
such a people ! and how ought every one to 
labour to attain to the knowledge and obe- 
dience of this power, which made all things 
good, and keeps all in good order ! 

" This, this alone, O Netherlands I can 
heal thy wound, and cure thy breach. This 
is that which can drive away thy enemies, 
and reconcile thee with thy friends and bre- 
thren ; and until this blessed power of God be 
z 2 



2*)0 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

I|ad in more esteem in thee, thou canst not be 
healed. 

te To this alone belong the titles of Groote, 
Uoogen, Moo gen, Achbaer, Src. [great , high, 
mighty, SfcJ] and not to frail and sinful 
men. And such as have taken these titles 
upon them, or do still take them, the hand 
of God is and will be against them ; 
and will make them know, that out of this 
power they are neither Hoogen, nor Moogen, 
nor Achbaer, but full of breakings and con- 
fusion : and this pride and exaltation hath 
been one cause of thy wound. And if thou 
shouldest be made whole on one side, thou 
wilt break out of another ; and if thou hadst 
no enemies, thou wouldst prove thy own der 
stroyer. Therefore whoever hath an ear, let 
him hear the voice that calls for truth, and 
righteousness, and judgment, among you ; and 
when ye are willing to hear the Lord, then He 
■will hear you, and not before. And so, in the 
mean time, while his voice and power in you 
as slighted and despised, he will despise and 
slight all your fasts and prayers ; yea, and all 
your labour and toil to settle yourselves either 
in religion or government, shall be in vain. 
And this shall you know from the Lord, when 



OF STEP MET* CRFSP. 2C9 

He bath fulfilled Ii is purpose upon you, and 
laid waste the heritage of the rebellious, and 
brought you down to lowliness and to repen- 
tance, and to confess unto Him, and to his 
power, which is over all, blessed for ever. 

" So, friends, thus far have I cleared myself, 
and dealt faithfully with you, and warned you 
of the causes of your evils ; and whether you 
will hear or forbear, the Lord will one day 
make you know that he Hath raised me upas 
a watchman to your country ; and that I have 
seen the evil coming upon you, and have 
faithfully warned you of your evil ways, both 
now and before at divers times, as may be 
seen in my complaint over Groninghen? 
printed in the Year 1669. And well had it been 
for those Netherlands, if they had taken coun- 
sel then ; then had these evils not come 
upon them. 

"And now I am again drawn forth in the 
love of God, once more to write unto you, 
though I would willingly have forbom writ* 
ing at such a time as this, if I might have been 
clear in God's sight. And glad should I be 
that you had an ear to hear while yet the day 
'lasteth ; and let none be offended at the plain- 
z 3 



270 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

cess of my dealing -with you ; for it is high, 
time to speak plainly ; destruction is at the 
door, and it is not my work to flatter you, nor 
to adyance any party or faction among you, as 
the most of your manifold foolish scribblers at 
this time do, by their pasquils and pamphlets; 
•which tend more to increasing your misery, 
and kindling up more animosities and feuds 
among you, than to taking away either the 
cause of thy misery, or to the healing of thy 
breach, 

" And for my part, I have learned not to 
fear man, nor to seek the favour of any party 
or faction ; but to answer the witness of God 
in all menVeonsciences, is my aim and desire. 
And so, hoping there is yet a people in thee, 
O Netherlands! whose day is not yet over, 
and to whom the word of prophecy and coun- 
sel may not be sent to make your ears deaf, 
your eyes blind, and your hearts fat ; but that 
it may tend to the bettering and amendment of 
life ;— I say, hoping there is such a people, I 
leave this my testimony, to be read by them 
in the fear of the Lord, and to be improved to 
3ijs glory and their comfort. And for the rest, 
who cannot endure sound counsel and re- 
.iproofsj but persist in their iniquity, and bar- 






-OF STEPHEX CRISP. 271 

den their hearts against the Lord and his 
Truth, and against the testimony of his ser- 
vants, such shall be forced to endure his 
plagues and judgments, until they are con- 
verted or consumed. And to conclude, I say 
with Malachi, both to priests and people: 
They shall find the day of God to be as a fiery 
oven, and all that do not lay his zcord to hearty 
shall be as fuel. Read Mai. ii, 1, 2. iv. 1." 



No. 27. tl An Epistle from Stephen Crisp, 
to the Princess Elizabeth in Germany." No 
Date. — 7 pages. 

So much of the matter of this Epistle is of 
general application, and affords so favourable a 
specimen of the plain, but not uncourteous ad- 
dress, of a Christian minister to a person of 
rank, that I venture to think the whole will be 
acceptable. 

" In that love lhat is universal and free in 
its own flowings forth, am I at this time drawn 
forth to visit the beloved seed of God, with a 
tender salutation, which will be better felt and 
understood in that tender, lowly seed of the 



272 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 






kingdom, than it can be read or comprehended 
in the sensual or carnal comprehending wis- 
dom of this world. Therefore my desire is, 
that with an inward retired consideration, thou 
mayst consider what I have to say, which I 
was desirous, and did hope to have signified 
unto thee by word of mouth; but am hindered 
at present, through weakness and inability of 
body, and other urgent concerns for the pre- 
cious Truth's sake, (of which I am a servant,) 
which do not admit of so long a journey, 
nor of any long stay at present in these parts. 
Neither could I be clear in God's sight, with- 
out signifying somewhat of that which is upon 
me concerning thee. And I pray God thou 
mayst have a sense of the depth of that love 
from whence it springs. 

" Well, my friend, for a long time hath a 
love wrought in my heart to your family; and 
great pity wrought in me many years since, 
in consideration of the distresses of the years 
of your childhood ; and a secret joy was in me, 
when it pleased God to end those long German 
wars, and to restore you in some measure to 
your former dignities and capacities, wherein 
you were made capable of serving God in your 
j*f negation, who had been so gracious to you. 



X)F STEPHEN CRISP. 273 

And when I heard thatlhy brother Charles had 
laid his hand upon God's little heritage in the 
Palatinate, it grieved my soul for his sake ; 
and I was drawn to go to him at Heydelburg ; 
and, in great meekness, and fear of God, to 
warn him of God's displeasure, which I felt 
kindled against him. And this was about the 
year 1669 ; and I was constrained to tell him 
that as he had stretched out bis hand against 
God's heritage, the Lord would stretchout his 
hand against his, if he did not cease persecut- 
ing the Lord's people for their conscience to- 
wards God. And O, that he had taken counsel 
in the day of his visitation! 

"And when I heard that thou didst receive 
several under thy protection, who were ex» 
pelled and banished from other places, though 
I knew their root and ground to be that which 
would not abide in the day of trial, yet I did 
rejoice on thy behalf, as believing that it sprang 
from a tender principle in thee, which was 
willing, as far as thou knewest, to receive dis- 
ciples in the name of disciples ; and I did hope, 
that in time thou mightest come to have a 
disciple's reward ; and that thou mightest, in 
the end, come to know the revelation of that 
loot and foundation which hath been the 



274 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Slock of Ages, to the righteous in all 
generations. 

" And according to this hope, a travail was 
in my spirit for thee before the Lord, that He, 
by his Divine Power, might open thy under* 
standing, to see beyond, and over the offences 
and stumbling-blocks, that some, pretenders to 
high things, had cast in thy way; and might 
learn thereby to cease from man and men, and 
their words and ways, and might be brought 
to the holy anointing in thyself, through faith 
in Christ Jesus, the quickening Spirit ; that 
by it thou mightest be taught to know the un- 
changeable Truth, and how to walk therein 
with a steadfast and upright heart before the 
Lord, to his glory and honour, and to the good 
example of those committed to thy care and 
charge. 

61 And now, according to the inward travail 
of my soul, a day of visitation is come upon 
thee from the Lord ; and his secret and Divine 
power hath reached thy heart, and hath as it 
were shook the earthly foundations ; that that 
which cannot be shaken might be manifested. 
And in this tender visitation of God to thy 
souk, doth my soul rejoice ; but my joy is 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 275 

mixed with fear and with a godly jealousy, 
lest thou shouldst, notwithstanding, be beguiled 
of the inheritance prepared for the faithful. 
And therefore, that I may clear my conscience 
in God's sight, and answer the tender opera- 
tions of love, which I feel in my heart towards 
thee, let me exhort thee to faithfulness to the 
love of God, so manifest unto thee. 

" And, First, I say with the prophet : Despise 
not the day of small things, nor the Branch 
that springs out of a dry ground; for He 
whose visage is more marred than any man's, 
is the Fountain of Treasure to them that believe 
and obey Him. For although the Truth doth 
not appear in such forms, styles, and methods 
and with such drest up articles, confessions, 
and creeds, as the divers invented ways of men 
have done, whose mountains have all of them 
had hands, first to make them, and then to de- 
fend them ; yet this stone which is cut out of 
this mountain, and without hands, will in time 
break down the images, the carved, the graven, 
and the molten work of men's hands; and then 
increase and fill the whole earth. 

" Therefore, I say again, despise not the 
simple, plain appearance of the Light of Christ 



276 REVIEW OF THE WOItKS 

in the conscience, as a low thing, and a mean 
dispensation; for through it is the knowledge 
of the Father and of the Son, unto eternal life, 
in all them that believe and obey it : and those 
that say it is a low and mean thing, let them 
first learn to be obedient to it, in all its requir- 
ings, reprovings, and discoveries. And this 
•will stop the mouths of all opposers, who are 
finding fault with it, as low and mean, and yet 
walk not up to it. 

" Secondly, Beware of that which would 
exalt itself in the vision of heavenly things, 
and take the vision for a possession, as too, 
too many have done; but in times of openings 
and discoveries, keep low, and be of a plain 
and single heart before the Lord. For vision 
is for encouragement, and not for exaltation. 
But whosoever makes images of those things 
which they have seen in heaven, will also bow 
down to them, and endeavour to make others 
bow too ; and thence comes a worse Babel, and 
a w r orse idolatry, than that which is set up 
among them who never yet saw into heaven, 
and so only can make images of tilings oh 
earth, and bow and cause others to bow there- 
unto. Therefore, if the Lord enlarge thy sight 
of Divine things, by his Divine, pure Spirit 



OF STEPHEX CRISP. 277 

and Light in thy inward parts, walk humbly 
before Him, in lowliness and fear, that thou, 
mayst feel his gentle leadings, to lead thee 
into the enjoyment and possession of what thou 
hast seen ; that thou then mayst witness forth 
his praise to the sons and daughters of men. 

" Thirdly, Beware of thy own will, which 
would run hastily forth after those things 
which, in and by the will of man, cannot be 
attained ; but watch diligently to know thy 
own will subject to the will of God in all 
things ; for it is not lawful for us to will those 
things of ourselves, which are good in them- 
selves; but to possess our souls in patience, 
supported in faith, believing that, in God's 
due time, we shall reap, if we faint not. And 
if the saints had need of patience to wait for 
the promise, when they had done the will of 
God, how r much need have such to be patient, 
and to watch the hasty will, who would have 
the promise, and the power, and peace, and 
rest, &c. when they are yet far short of having 
done the w ill of God ! 

"And Fourthly, Let no man deceive thee, 
either by puffing thee up, or casting thee 
down; for it is the Lord that knows the heart, 
2 A 



278 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and not only knows it, but discovereth it ; and 
bis discovery is true, and ought to be believed* 
And no better or worse is any one's state, tban 
just so as it is represented to them by the pure 
Divine Light of Christ Jesus, in their own 
consciences. And whoever represent them 
better or worse, are deceivers, or mistaken 
guides. 

" This is the standard of true knowledge 
and judgment, that we all must make use of 
to believe, and be subject to, whenever we 
would take a true measure of ourselves. This 
is He that said to some : / have a few things 
against thee, and to others, / have a many 
things against ihee,SfC And this is the Minis- 
ter of the tabernacle of God that is with men, 
whodealsoutto every one their proper portion, 
according to their state, and present condition. 
This is the voice of the Son, by whom God 
now speaks, and whom all must hear ; and they 
that hear Him live. He hath power to cast 
down and to raise up, to wound and to heal, 
to kill and make alive ; and so hath no man. 
Therefore wait upon Him with an upright 
mind ; and wherein thou hast at any time 
been unfaithful, He will shew it, and give thee 
repentance unto life, and healthy backsliding, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 279 

and at last shew thee the consolation of her 
whose warfare is accomplished. But it must 
be accomplished in thee first, and that by his 
Divine assistance, and through pure judg- 
ment ; for Sion was always redeemed with 
judgments, and her converts with righte- 
ousness. 

" Fifthly, Beware of the friendship of this 
world ; for it is destructive to the work of God, 
and is oppressive to his seed ; and when his 
seed cries to Him, from under the oppression 
of the spirit of this world, the Lord will hear, 
and visit thee in judgment for his seed's sake; 
and thou wilt want that inward comfort thy 
soul desires. For in the world's friendship, 
lodgeth very hiddenly the real enmity against 
Qod. So that when we came but to break off 
from the outward forms and tokens of the 
world's friendship, the enmity wrought 
mightily against us ; but the Lord hath crown- 
ed his faithful seed and people, with domi- 
nion and power, and slain the enmity, and led 
captivity captive : glory be to Him for ever 
and ever ! 

" And for this cause is the love of God shed 
abroad in thy heart, that it might overcome 
2 a 2 



2S0 REVIEW OF THE WOIlfcS 



the enmity, and that wherein it lodgeth ; that 
thy soul might reign, through a death to the 
world and its glory over the world, and over 
the spirit that rules in it ; and might tread 
down the vanity and emptiness thereof, in the 
dominion of the just ; not regarding, but de- 
spising the shame and reproach that belong 
to the Gospel, and the present tribulations 
that may attend it ; which are but for a mo- 
ment, as knowing that they work for the faith- 
ful, a far more exceeding weight of glory. So 
keep thy eye to the recompense, and to the 
crown, which God the Righteous Judge shall 
give in that day ; when sheep and goats, 
lovers of this world, and lovers of Christ more 
than all, shall be separated one from another ; 
and the world's lovers shall perish with the 
world, and Christ's true lovers shall reign with 
Him for evermore. 

Sixthly, Let thy power which God hath 
given thee in the earth, shine forth in righte- 
ousness, in mercy, and in truth ; for, for that 
end art thou called, to set forth a good exam- 
ple in the administration of justice, and easing 
the oppressed ; encouraging them that do well, 
and being a terror to all evil doers. For that 
end is power in thy hand, that the giver of it 



at 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 28t 

may be honoured ; and them that honour God, 
God will honour. Therefore wait for wis- 
dom's voice, by whom princes decree justice in 
the earth, and she will be thy great counsellor. 
And know this, that the glorious power of 
God, by which thy heart and soul is enlight- 
ened and quickened, comes not to destroy 
rule and order in the earth, but to establish 
justice and righteousness, and take away op- 
pression and violence, and the hard heart ; 
that his name may be feared and dreaded on 
the earth by the sons of men ; and his power 
over all may have dominion. 

* Thus, dear friend, have I in simplicity 
and uprightness, discharged what lay upon 
me in great plainness and openness of heart ; 
desiring the Lord God Almighty may be thy 
director in all things, and that thou, in the inno- 
cent seed of Life, mayst be able to understand m 
thy day, the things of thy peace, and mayst be- 
come an instrument of his praise in the earth, and 
for the setting forth his great name ; and in 
the end, mayst have thy portion with the re- 
deemed and sanctified believers and mem- 
bers of that holy Head, Jesus Christ, forever- 
more. 

2 a3 



282 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" So I remain a lover of thy soul, and of 
the souls of all men, but especially of such 
who are come to a travail in Sion's travail; 
among whom give the salutation of my tender 
love to the Church of Holland, and so many 
as in measure are made partakers of the pre- 
cious faith that is in Christ Jesus our Lord ; in 
whom farewell. 

" Stephen Crisp."* 



* The reader of the foregoing Epistle will be interested in 
knowing how it was received by 'the illustrious person to whom 
it was addressed. During the progress of this work 
through the press, I have obtained a copy of the original 
letter from the Princess Elizabeth, in reply to the address of 
Stephen Crisp ; which I here insert. It affords additional 
testimony to the well-known piety and humility of that emi- 
nently Christian Princess. 

-Erom the Princess Elizabeth Palatine of the Rhine, 
to Stephen Crisp. 

" The 2nd of May. 
'-" Your good wishes for our family, and intentions to 
come and see me, are very acceptable. What could not be 
performed this time, may be m another -season; and in thfe 
-mean while, I shall endeavour to practise .your lessons, as 
4Sod shall afford me strength. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 283 

No. 28. "An Epistle from Stephen Crisp, 
to be read in the Women s Meetings of Friends 
in Ipszcich. 1674. — 5 pages. 

; This Epistle contains some useful advice, for 
the regulation and general conduct of the 
Meetings held by Women Friends, for the 
Christian care of their own sex. 

It was probably written during the 
writer's Travels in Holland and the Nether- 
lands, where he passed nearly the whole of 
the year 1773, and several months of the year 
1774. 



"Thave been out ofmy'native country above 19 years, and 
knew not what passed there. If my brother did refuse pro- 
tection unto godly persons, it is ill for him; but the better for 
them to have no share in the desolation of that poor, ruined 
country. God will gather all that live in obedience to Him, 
where and when He pleases. 

"" I recommend to your prayers, one that loves all that 
love the Lord Jesus Christ, named your unknown friend ie 
Him, 

"" E«ZABE*H. T 



284 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

The following extract is not less adapted to 
the present than to past times. 

" And ray friends, above all things, live 
in the fear of God, and in love and tenderness 
one towards another; and let not the enemy 
that lies in wait to destroy, break the band of 
your peace ; for while ye keep the peace of 
God unbroken, ye can communicate one to 
another of the gifts and grace of God, and so 
will daily feel a being the better one for ano- 
ther ; which will beget a dearness and esteem 
in you one towards one another. And in that 
dearness and tenderness meet together about 
the Lord's work, seeking with one consent to 
exalt the name of the Lord, and to honour it 
above your own merits. And let none seek 
exaltation ; but know this, that the humblest 
and most self-denying, is most highly honoured 
of God, and fittest to do Him service ; and 
they that are most long-suffering and patient, 
are most like to Christ the Head ; and in 
such his virtue will shine, and so make itself 
known. 

" And, friends, have a care in your Meet- 
ings, to give due honour unto every member 
in the body, remembering none are useless \ 



DP STEPHEN CRISP. 2S5 

but stir up one another in their proper service 
in the house of God, and let not the foot be 
troubled that it is not a hand, nor the hand 
that it is not an eye; but every one give 
thanks, that by the grace of God you are what 
you are ; and be faithful in your place and 
service, that ye may witness a growth. And 
in your meeting together, wait to feel the 
rising of the Life, and opening of the wisdom 
of God in one another. And let that speak 
and propound things needful and necessary 
for your welfare, and the welfare of the 
Church." 



286 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

No. 29. " An Epistle of tender counsel and 
advice to all that have believed the Truth every 
where, to exhort them to faithfulness there- 
untor 1680.— 21 pages. 

This, and several succeeding Epistles, prove 
that the paternal care which the Writer had 
over the Society ,was in no degree diminished 
in his advancing years. 

I shall make copious extracts from this 
Epistle. The sound Christian advice which 
it conveys, deserves to be very seriously con^ 
sidered in these days of ease and prosperity. 

After an Introduction, full of Gospel love, 
he thus proceeds : 

" Although my outward man is so far de- 
cayed, that I cannot travel so much as I used 
to do, insomuch, that I know that many of you, 
among whom I have travelled in the Gospel of 
our Lord Jesus, will see my face no more ; yet 
my travail in spirit is not lessened, nor my love 
to you. the Lord's people. But my cries are 
day and night to the Lord, that ye may be 
preserved blameless unto the day of his com- 
ing ; and that ye may be armed with power, 
and furnished with wisdom, and may be pre- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 287 

pared with every good gift of the Spirit, to 
stand against the wiles and subtle workings of 
Satan your adversary, who is upon his watch, 
w hich way he may destroy you, and spoil you 
of the lot of your inheritance, prepared for 
you in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

" My dear friends, I would not have you 
forget, that there are many ways to weaken 
and to darken you, which must all be watched 
against ; therefore walk circumspectly, keep- 
ing your eye in your head, waiting to feel 
your strength renewed daily. For, be assured, 
your trials and temptations will be renewed ; 
and if you be destitute of the heavenly daily 
bread, there will be a daily weakening, which 
will appear by your being overcome by such 
things, as once you had a power to stand 
against, which is a great grief to behold in 
many. 

" And now I come to warn you of a few 
things that have for some time lain upon me, 
to send among you ; which I do, in faithful- 
ness, recommend to the pure witness of God 
in all consciences, not as if I judged any ; but 
this I must tell you, there is one that judgeth, 
and will give an answer in every one that 



ESS REVIEW OF THEWORKS 

listens to Him, by which they may know how 
far any of these things have prevailed upon 
them ; and he that jndgeth, will also, by judg- 
ment, deliver them that are caught in Satan's 
snares, if they do hearken, and submit to his 
leadings. 

" First. Take heed, my dear friends, of 
holding the Truth in a bare formality, satisfy- 
ing yourselves that you havefor a long time own- 
ed the Avay of Truth, and the assemblies of the 
Lord's people, and appeared as they have done 
in all outward things, and have hereby obtain- 
ed the repute to be one of them ; and under these 
considerations any sit down at ease, as to the 
inward man, unacquainted with the inward 
travails, either for thyself or others ; uncon- 
cerned whether the noble plant grows, either 
in thyself or others. 

"O my friends! this is a dangerous state, 
yea, more dangerous than my tongue or pen 
can declare ; though, so far as to clear myself, 
and warn such, God will give me utterance. 
Therefore consider how thy poor soul is be- 
guiled in this condition ; for, in the first place, 
thou art deprived of that daily enjoyment 
which others do enjoy, in waiting upon the 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 289 

Lord; they feel his refreshing presence, 
which either fills them with joy and comfort, 
or else opens their understandings in the light 
of a certain knowledge of, and testimony 
against, such things as yet stand in the way, 
and hinder the joy of his salvation from them. 

a But thou that sittest in a dry formality, 
without an inward travail upon thy spirit, thou 
knowest neither of these things, but goest on 
in the dark, not knowing whither thou goest ; 
and so, in the length of time, thou being such a 
stranger to the powerful workings of Truth 
in thyself, it grows to a question with thee, 
whether others do witness any such powerful 
workings, yea or nay ; for every thing that is 
not experimental, is liable to question : as he 
that never saw, knows not what seeing is, and 
he that never smelt any thing, he knows not 
what smelling is: so he that through long con- 
tinuance in this formal manner of going to 
Meetings, continues still unacquainted with 
the power, will at last be easily made to 
question whether there be such a power or not. 

" And, in this state, the dark power will 
work insensibly, and prevail upon thy spirit, 
and fit thee for his own purpose, and will mi- 
2 B 



290 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

nister a secret liberty into thy mind, and a 
looseness, even as to the form itself, by degrees ; 
and so will prepare thee against a time of some 
sharp, smart trial that will come to try thee, 
either in having something, or parting with 
something, which may be had or parted with, 
whether thou wilt turn thy back on Truth. 
And when this time of trial comes upon thee, 
then the strength and advantage that the ene- 
my hath gotten upon thee, in the time of thy 
lukewarm, loose profession, is made manifest; 
then thou art in great straits for a season. If 
the temptation be in having a wife, or hus- 
band, or a portion, or legacy, or gaining a 
suit at law, or recovering a debt, or such like 
tilings, — and the things cannot be had without 
letting the testimony of thy profession fall ; 
O ! what struggling is there in thy soul to 
obtain the thing thou desirest ; and yet wouldst 
fain be reckoned a friend still, and art loath to 
be publicly numbered among backsliders and 
apostates. 

" And so, if the temptation and trial comes 
on the other side, in parting with any 
thing which thou lovest, for thy profession's 
sake, as thy wife and children, thy liberty, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 291 

thy money, tby cattle, thy house and land, or 
what else may be dear to thee ; O ! how doth 
self work to save itself; and loath it is to part 
with the name and reputation of a friend 
of Truth, and as loath to part with any of these 
things for the Truth's sake ; not feeling the 
hundred-fold in this time, which Christ spoke 
of, nor the life everlasting either. 

" Here is a day of great difficulty and dis- 
tress, which is come, and is coming upon many 
of such careless professors ; in which they do 
stand in need of the help of the Divine power 
of God to support them, and to give them 
victory ; but, alas! they are estranged from it; 
and now the form will not support them in 
the hour of this great trial ; but the flesh and 
blood's consultings are grown strong for want 
of living in the daily cross ; and that nature 
cries aloud in the ears of thy soul, which thou 
hast indulged and suffered to live. And if 
thou considerest the Truth, and weighest the 
testimony of that against thy own will and 
desire, then thou easily seest which is of most 
weight with thee; for a false weight, and false 
balance, and false judgment, is got up in the 
time of thy careless profession ; and then the 
old deceiver comes in, and tells thee, thou 
2b2 



292 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

seest no evil in it, or at least not so much as on 
the contrary side; so that of two evils, it is 
wisdom to choose the least. 

li And such like reasonings fill thy mind, 
till at last, thy will being strong, and thy un- 
derstanding darkened, thou takest up a resolu- 
tion to hazard thy soul, and to part with thy dry, 
withered testimony, which thou hast for along 
time borne without life, and embrace the price 
that is bidden for it, as Esau and Judas did ; 
and so sellest the Truth which thou once fol- 
lowedst ; and deliverest it, as much as in thee 
lieth, into the hands of its enemy, to be mocked, 
and reproached, and trampled upon. And 
this is the fruit and effect of a long careless- 
ness and remissness, which thou thoughtest 
once would never have come to this. 

"And when the servants of the Lord have 
declared what sad effects such negligence 
would produce in time, thou hast been apt to 
bless thyself, and to reckon thou wouldest 
never run so far out, as publicly to bring re- 
proach upon the way thou professedest ; but, 
alas ! thou little knewest that thy soul's enemy 
was all that while but preparing thee against 
theday of thy greatest trial, and, as it were, un- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP, 293 

arming thee against the day of battle, that he 
might the more easily overcome thee. But 
now thou seest thou art fallen, when others 
being tried by the same temptations, stand 
and abide in their testimony ; and so mightest 
thou also, if thou hadst waited upon God as 
thou oughtest, in diligence, for the renewing 
of thy strength. 

" But now, alas ! miserable man or woman, 
what wilt thou do ! Thy cloak is now pulled 
offj thy fig-leaf profession is rent; and thou 
hast now but two ways, and well if there be 
so many, to wit, to turn thy mind from the 
object of thy delight, to the Truth which thou 
hast sold for it ; and by repentance, and through 
judgment, to wait to see if God will be merci- 
ful to thee or not, and to spend thy days in 
sorrow and mourning, and to give up now at 
last to that work thou so much before 
slightedst; or else to take the other way, and 
that is, to go on in thy rebellion against the 
Light of Christ Jesus, and add sin to sin, until 
the custom of sin may take away the sense of 
judgment. And so thou may st grow to a fleshly 
ease, and give over caring for thy future well- 
being; and, like the beast that perisheth, set 
2 b 5 



291 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

tliy heart upon Ibe things of this life for a little 
season, and then cometh the end. 

" Thus thou who wert once called of God 
to an inheritance in his Light, must now have 
thy portion in the utter darkness; and thou 
that wcrt once called 1o have been a vessel of 
honour, art now become a vessel of wrath 
fitted for destruction. O! my soul laments 
the condition of such; and glad would I be, if 
any of these careless professors of Truth might 
be awakened before it be too late." 

"A Second thing that lies upon me to warn 
you all of, my dear friends, is, to watch against 
the spirit of this world ; lest it drink up your 
spirits too much in an eager and greedy pur- 
suit after the things of this world, which hap- 
pens to several in divers manners, to their 
great hurt and damage; and the snare lies deep 
and hidden, under a subtle covering. For 
Whereas it is the duty of every man to take 
care for his family, and to be diligent in the 
calling God hath set him in, and to improve 
such opportunities as God pleasethto put into 
his hand; here the subtle enemy works to 
make the care immoderate ; to turn the dili- 
gence to slavery ; and the improving oppor- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 293 

tunities which God gives him, to a finding and 
searching out of opportunities, .sometimes by 
indirect courses, and sometimes to the prejudice 
of thy neighbour ; and all to try to satisfy a 
greed v desire after the heaping up of treasure 
in this world. And, through the earnestness 
of the affection that kindles daily more and 
more, after these things, a man comes, in time, 
to have the increase or decrease of these things 
to be the objects of his joy or sorrow, and then 
he is miserable ; for joy or sorrow are the 
highest faculties of the mind, and ought to be 
pitched upon the highest objects, and not 
upon transitory things under the sun, by which 
neither love nor hatred can be known. 

" But, alas ! how are many cast down at 
losses, and lifted up at profits and gains! O 
my friends ! take heed of this fickle and un- 
certain stale, for while some have too much 
set their minds after the things of this world, 
they have erred from the faith, and have 
placed their trust in uncertain riches ; and 
when they have taken their wings and fled 
away, their hope hath gone with them. There- 
fore, I beseech you, dear friends, have a care 
of suffering your spirits to be sharpened and 



296 REVIEW OP THE WORKS 

set on edge about these outward things ; and. 
take heed of enlarging your trades and trafficks 
beyond your ability, and beyond your capacity ; 
for both these evils have been the ruin of some : 
for every one that hath ability, hath not capa- 
city for great things, and every one that bath 
capacity, hath not ability ; and where either 
of these are wanting, such ought to be content 
with such low and mean things as they 
are capable to manage, and able to reach, and 
not to bear themselves too much upon the one, 
and then seek by indirect means to make the 
other answerable. For no man knows the 
issue beforehand ; and therefore, even in these 
things, every one ought to wait to know the 
guidance of the Lord, and to be subject unto 
his will, though in a cross to their own ; as the 
apostle said concerning them that said : We 
will go to yonder city, and we will buy and 
sell, and get gain. Which were all lawful 
things in themselves; yet for this, saith he, 
you ought to have said, If the Lord will. So 
he that saith, I will increase my trade, and en- 
large my adventures, that my gain may thereby 
be enlarged ; even in this he ought to say, If 
the Lord will. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 207 

" O friends ! wait to feel the governing hand 
of God in these things, to govern you in your 
affairs, that so He may realty be acknowledg- 
ed by you the Lore of earth, as well as heaven, 
the ruler of your tradings and dealings, as well 
as of your religion and profession. 

" Thirdly. And, friends, I desire you re- 
member that the crown of our profession was, 
that our YEA WAS YEA, and our NAY 
WAS NAY, and so it is still with all the 
faithful followers of the Truth ; though too 
many have let in a false liberty since their first 
convincement, and have not that respect to 
their words which they ought to have ; to the 
great dishonour of God, and grief of the 
righteous, and wounding their own souls. O ! 
my friends, let this be amended by every one 
that hath been overtaken in it, as you regard 
the honour of God, your own prosperity, and 
the good of others. For many stumblings 
have hereby been laid in the way of some who 
had been near to Truth, and they have fallen 
and been lost ; but they that laid the stumb- 
lings, will not be found clear of their blood ia 
the day of the Lord's inquisition," 



298 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" Therefore the ways to prevent all such 
miscarriages, are to be taken notice of, and 
in the first place, that none run themselves 
into necessities by indirect courses ; neither 
by overcharging themselves in trading, nor in 
buying more than they are able to com- 
pass — nor by suretiship, which makes a sup- 
posed debt, though uncertain, and therefore 
the more dangerous, because it may come upon 
you at unawares, before you are prepared for 
it. These things ought in wisdom to be pie- 
vented aforehand. 

" Also every one that upon a just occasion 
doth borrow 3 and doth pass his word upon 
the reputation of Truth, by promise, bill, or 
obligation, ought, at the same time, to have 
something in his eye of most certainty, by 
which he shall be enabled to perform his 
word, and not to trust to returns of adventures, 
increase of crops, gains of trade, or others 
keeping their word with him, or any such like 
uncertainties ; for if any do so, they may be 
in this snare of being unfaithful to their pro- 
mise before they are aware. But although 
there is a kind of uncertainty in all these 
things below, yet where a man's truth and pro^ 
fession lies thus at pawn, and must be fetched 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 299 

home or forfeited, there ought, as I said before, 
to be something most certain in such an one's 
eye, by which he may save his word ; as mo- 
ney that he knows to be at his demand or goods 
in possession, or lands that are free, and can 
be engaged if the worst come ; for you will 
find more peace in conscience, and a better 
answering of Truth, to make a new engagement 
of land or goods, than to break an old engage- 
ment of your truth and profession." 

"Fourthly. And, friends, the next thing that 
lies upon me, is in respect unto such as have been 
brought up and educated amongst us, and are 
grownup, and do make profession of the same 
way and truth in which they have been edu- 
cated. That all such may take heed that they rest 
not in a bare educable form of the Truth, with- 
out having regard to their inward travail of 
the soul, and to their growth in the power of 
godliness. For the snare of their soul's enemy 
lies deep in this matter ; and his working is to 
draw their minds into the world, while their 
bodies and public profession remain amongst 
friends ; and to keep them at ease and liberty 
from the daily cross, and from the crucifying 
power, by which they should travail, to sub- 
due that nature in themselves that is grown up 



300 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

in their youth, as well under this profession as 
under any other, where the power is not minded 
diligently. 

" And by this., means many are and remain 
unfitted for the Testimony of Truth, wanting 
to be rooted and grounded in it, through an 
experimental warfare in their own particulars. 
For, my friends, I say unto you in the word 
of the Lord: Except ye be horn again, ye 
cannot see the kingdom of God ; and if ye 
cannot see that, what availeth it what you see ? 
For all sight, vision, and opening of things will 
not save nor deliver your souls in the day of 
trial that will come upon you for the trial of 
your faith ; and then, if your faith be such an 
one as stands in words and terms, though never 
so true, yet it will fail you in that day ; and you 
will not be able to stand. 

" Therefore, dear friends, sink down in 
lowliness and humility, and wait to feel the 
power revealed in you, which was revealed 
in us in the beginning ; and join your minds to 
it, in a living faith, that you may come to ex- 
perience its condemning power, to judge every 
vain thought and exalted desire, and every 
idle word and evil action ; that so, by the pure 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 301 

judgment of Truth, you may come to witness 
a cleansing and a subduing of that nature, which 
lusteth unto disobedience of the righteous law 
of God in your hearts. And as that nature is 
kept under the daily cross, it will weaken and 
die daily in you ; and the weaker it is made, 
the more you will feel of the powerful quick- 
enings of the word of God in your souls; and 
a tender life will spring up in you, to your 
great comfort, that will be tender of the glory 
of God, and of the honour and reputation of 
your profession." 

u Therefore prize your time, and examine 
yourselves, what reason you have in your- 
selves, to make profession of the name and 
way of God, more than that you were educated 
therein, and brought up to it by your parents, 
guardians, or masters. Have you ever felt the 
heavenly virtue of it overshadowing your 
souls? And if you have, do you retain and 
keep the savour of it still upon your spirits? 
Do you feel yourselves possest with that awe, 
fear, and reverence of the Lord's presence, 
which the Lord's people felt in the beginning 
of their day, and the faithful do still feel ? Is 
the inward enjoyment of the life of Truth a 
greater joy to you than all your outward en* 
2 c 



302 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

js>ymcnts ? If so, then you will not sell it nor 
part with it, for any tiling in this world. And 
the testimonies which such do bear for the 
Truth, will not be traditional, but from a sen- 
sible convincement in themselves; so that they 
will be able to say : These things have we re- 
ceived from the Lord; and they are the testimo- 
nies of God manifst to us in the Light of 
his Son, Christ Jesus, ia whom we have 
believed. 

" O friends ! how will this drive back the 
storm of temptations that will come both in- 
wardly and outwardly, in a time of trouble I 
How many are there, who, for want of this 
experimental assurance in themselves, have 
been brought to great questionings and doubt- 
ings, and knew not whether to go back- 
ward or forward ; and many have halted and 
staggered; and some have fallen, and rise no- 
more, to the ruin of themselves and others. 
Therefore, my dear friends, trust not to the 
resolutions of your own spirits, without a sense 
of the power, nor to a receiving the Truth by 
your education; but ail wait to be made living 
and true witnesses of the rising of the power 
in your own hearts, and the carrying on of the 
work of the power in yourselves, to the rege- 



! 



©F STEPHEN CRISP. 303 

derating you, and bringing you to that birth 
thattrusteth in nothing but in the Lord alone, 
and hath Him for its support in the greatest 
exercises; then shall ye stand and remain, 
and be a generation chosen of God, to bear 
his name and testimony, and to commit it to 
the next generation. 

" And, friends, let the brotherly love that 
was sown in your hearts, as a precious seed in 
your first convincement, continue and increase 
daily : that, as ye are made partakers of one 
hope of salvation in Christ Jesus, so ye may 
continue of one mind and heart, according to 
the working of his Spiritin you ; having a ten- 
der respect one for another, as children of one 
Father, and as such as feed at one table. For 
Christ hath ordained, and doth ordain, in all 
his Churches, that we should love one ano- 
ther — that we should shun all occasions of 
offence and grief — that we should walk or- 
derly, and as becomes his holy Gospel; that 
"we may be an honour thereunto, and a strength 
and comfort to one another. This is our great 
ordinance, our new commandment, which was 
also from the beginning, and will always abide 
the same through all generations. Therefore, 
my friends and brethren, let tiie fruits of sin- 
2 c 2 



504 REVIEW GF THE WORKS 

cere and brotherly love abound amongst you, 
both in word and deed; and let none be 
wanting in fulfilling the Law of Charity, 
without which all profession will be but like 
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

" But if this law be kept to, the life of reli- 
gion will be felt, and each one will thereby be 
taught their duty and charge concerning ano- 
ther, and know how to comfort in charity, to 
admonish in charity ,to reprove in charity,and 
also to receive all these in charity : and this 
will exclude for ever all whispering and tale- 
bearing, and bring every one to deal plainly 
and uprightly with every one ; not sufFeringsin 
to rest upon the soul of thy brother, but to 
deal with him quickly, plainly, and tenderly, 
even as thou thyself woaldst be dealt withal. 
And however this kind of dealing be taken, 
thou shalt not miss of thy reward ; but thy 
peace will remain with thee. For while 
friends' eyes are fixed upon the power of God, 
as their guide and leader in all these things, 
and their design is simply God's glory, the 
clearing their own consciences, and the good 
of theirbrother, they will not be discouraged 
in their undertakings; for they know the 
power will certainly come over whatsoever 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 505 

-opposetli it; and this will keep your minds 
quiet and free from disturbances, when you 
see men, and things, and parties arise against 
the power, knowing that the power is an ever- 
lasting Rock. But as for those things that 
appear against it, they are but for a season. 
in which season patience must be exercised, 
and the counsel of wisdom stood in ; and then 
you will be kept from staggering, or from scat- 
tering,by all the fair shews the spirit of oppo- 
sition can make. 

"For they that do enjoy the life and sub- 
stance, and feed daily of the bread that comes 
down from heaven, have a quick sense and 
discerning of things that are presented to 
them ; and do know them that are of the earth 
earthly, by their earthly savour, from those 
that are of the heavenly, with their heavenly 
savour. They know what feeds the head and 
the wit, and carnal reason, and what will nou- 
rish the immortal soul ; and so come to be 
fixed ; and are not ready to feed upon unsa- 
voury food, nor to be easily tossed, nor to be 
troubled at evil tidings, nor can they be drawn 
after one thing or man by an affection, nor set 
against another man or thing by a prejudice,- 
but the true balance of a sound judgment, set- 
2c3 



306 BEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

tied in the Divine knowledge, according to 
the measure that the Father hath bestowed, 
keeps such steady in their way, both in re- 
spect to their own testimony and conversa* 
tion, and also in respect to their dealings with 
others, 

"O my dear friends! in such doth the 
Truth shine; and such are the true followers 
of Christ, and they are worthy to be followed, 
because their way is as a shining light, shining 
on towards the perfect day. And in this sure 
and steady way, my soul's desire is, that you 
and I may walk, and continue walking, unto 
the end of our days, in all sobriety, truth, jus- 
tice, righteousness, and charity ; as good ex- 
amples in ourday, and comfortable precedents 
in our end, to them that shall remain ; that 
so we may deliver over all the testimonies of 
our Lord Jesus unto succeeding generations, 
as pure, as certain, and as innocent, as we re- 
ceived them in the beginning; and in the end 
of all ©ur labours, travails, trials, and exercises, 
may lay down our heads in that Sabbath of rest 
■which remains always for the Lord's people. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



307 



No. 50. " An Epistle from S. Crisp to 
Friends at Dantzick. 1680. — 4 pages. 

I present this excellent Epistle to the reader 
uncurtailed. 

" Amsterdam, this 19th Fifth Month, 1680. 

" Dear Friends, 

" In the fellowship of that life that was be» 
fore death was, do I dearly salute you, praying 
to the God and Father of Life, that ye may 
livingly be made sensible of the increase of his 
power, grace, and virtue, from day to day ; 
that as your trials and tribulations abound, you 
may really feel that seed in yourselveSj for 
whose sake the trials and persecutions come ; 
for it was and is the seed birth of life, that 
was and is persecuted and afflicted in all agea, 
as it is said : Against thy holy child Jesus 
have they done all these things. For you 
know, my friends, that before this birth in som* 
measure did appear, you were at peace with 
the world, and the world with you ; but whea 
ye were turned from darkness to light, then th« 
dark power began to work against you^ a»d 



308 REVIEW OF TKE WORKS 






it doth still work, and will work so long as its 
hour lasteth. 

"And what is the work thereof? Is it not 
to draw or drive you again to darkness, from 
the light to falsehood — to hypocrisy from 
truth — to death from life; all which, in the 
light of life, you comprehend and discern ; 
and by the operation of that love to God, 
which He hath shed into your hearts by the 
Spirit of his Son, you are upholden and pre- 
served in your testimony unto this day ; and by 
the faith which God hath given you, you have 
the evidence of things you do not yet see, and do 
enjoy the substance of the things you hope for, 
even immortality and eternal life ; the first-fruits 
-whereof, as an earnest, are revealed by his 
Spirit in your inward parts. And by this faith 
it is that we know God will put the Seed's 
enemies under his feet, both inward and out- 
ward, according to his promise. But, friends, 
it is not the part of him that is a true believer 
to make haste ; but to leave the times, seasons, 
ways, and means, to the Lord alone, whose will 
is to be done in earth as in heaven ; and shall 
be done over all his enemies. 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 309 

"Therefore, dear friends, stand given up in 
the will of jour God, who hath chosen and 
called you to make known his Name and power 
in you, and to let all his enemies know that He 
is able to support his children in the greatest 
exercises ; by which his Name, indue time, by 
others shall be acknowledged, as it is among 
you this day ; for whose sake others have for- 
merly suffered and laboured. 

" And, dear friends, keep your eye to the 
power of God, to which all things are possi- 
ble; and look not too much upon the power of 
death and darkness ; for if you do, you will 
be captivated in the natural sense, and so will 
be weakened ; but being diligently waiting 
upon God in the light of his Son, in whom He 
hath appeared to you, you will be so confirmed 
in the faith of his power, that you will be able 
to believe beyond what your natural sense can 
comprehend. And then will you feel the life 
of the true Christians in all ages of Christen- 
dom, in which they have overcome and tram- 
pled upon all manner of sufferings, and even 
death itself : for, alas ! my friends, what is this 
life — what is this breath — what is this time 
that we have here on earth — but something 



310 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

given us of God, wherewith He hath ordained 
that we should glorify Him? 

" And if we love this life, and the things of 
it, so much as not to part with it and them for 
his Name's sake, then arc we unworthy of 
Him ; but, my friends, you have seen how 
the Lord your God hath dealt graciously 
witli you ; and hath not, in a long time of suffer- 
ing, permitted the fierce waves to devour 
you; but that both you and your testimony 
are kept alive unto this day, by a secret Di- 
vine power : and it shall live, and outlive 
your adversaries. Therefore be of good cou- 
rage : the cause in which you are engaged is the 
Lord Jehovah's, who will arise for his Name's 
sake, in his own time, way, and manner. So 
you need not to take care how worm Jacob 
shall arise ; your care is only to be faithful 
to what God hath made manifest to you, to 
keep your consciences free, though you 
should be bound ; that your witness may 
live, though you should die : the Lord knows 
how to raise his seed, and to support his 
servants. 

et And, my friends, this I must say unto you, 
that, since I came hither, I have been truly 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 311 

fefreshed in the account I have had out of your 
letters; and my heart is drawn forth in tender 
love to you : and were my body able to sus-? 
tain travel as it hath been, I should, I believe, 
come to see your faces ; but I am much de* 
cayed in body : howbeit my spirit is at liberty, 
through the grace I have received of God, in 
which I both rejoice and suffer with the flock 
and heritage of God every where. And this, 
my dear friends, I lay upon you in the Name 
of the Lord, even the same that our Lord hath 
laid upon us all, to wit, that ye love one ano- 
ther with sincere love ; and that ye be of one 
mind, in all humility, bearing each other's bm> 
dens, and washing each other's feet, when need 
requires; and be a strength one to another, 
according to the ability which God hath 
given you, that so none may be lost by means 
of any one's laying stumbling-blocks in their 
way; but that if any will wilfully turn back, 
and cause the offence of the cross to cease, for 
the sake whereof you suffer tribulation, their 
condemnation may be wholly upon their own 
heads, and you may be kept perfectly clear 
of their blood. So the God of peace, and of 
mercy, be with you, and multiply his blessing 



S12 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

upon you, and shine into all your souls, in the 
glorious manifestations of his presence, to your 
joy and comfort. Amen. 

* Your friend and brother in the tribulations 
and patience oj Christ, the Head of the true 
body, which is his Church. 

u Stephen Crisp." 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 313 

No. 31. " A Babylonish Opposer of Truth, 
by the Truth reproved. 1681. — 15 pages. 

This Tract is stated to be in answer to "An 
impertinent paper sent abroad by Thomas 
Crisp." The Writer of this paper was one of 
the leaders who opposed the establishment 
of the Discipline, as limiting the operation of 
the Spirit in each member, and leading to an 
implicit subjection, or blind obedience to the 
ruling party (which he calls Foxonians) in 
the Society. 

The paper appears to have been devoted to 
this point, and to have contained several mis- 
representations of the conduct of the Society. 

The Writer, it appears, attributes the esta- 
blishment of that order in the Society, which 
the Discipline was intended to preserve, to 
ambitious motives, and to a Popish spirit. 
From the manner in which he has done this, 
our Author considers him as intending to fa- 
vour the opinions which at that time pre- 
vailed, that the Society was in a secret confe- 
deracy with the Church of Rome, and so en- 
couraging that persecution which its mem- 
bers had so unmeritedly suffered as Popish 
Recusants. 2 d 



314 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

It is probable tbe Reply might be useful at 
the time it was published ; but it contains 
little that is interesting to a modern reader. 



No. 32. " An Epistle from Stephen Crisp 
to Friends in Norwich. 1682. — 5 pages. 

This Letter appears to have been written in 
a time of persecution : and the following ex- 
tract will not. I think, be unacceptable. 

" He that hath given you to believe in his 
Name, will also give you power to suffer j 
that so, through patient enduring your part in 
the sufferings and tribulations of tbe body of 
Christ, ye may plentifully partake of the joy 
and glory that is afterwards to be revealed. 
For as many of you as abide faithful in the 
time of these light afflictions, will see a far 
more exceeding weight of glory brought 
forth, and shall feel your share and portion 
in it. 

" TLerefjre, my dear friends, look not out 
at Satan nor his instruments; but comprehend 
them in the light of your Saviour; and you 
will see them limited as the sea, that thus far 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 315 

shall they go, and no farther. And so far as 
they have power to go, let no man grudge it, 
but acknowledge, as our Lord did in the day 
of his sufferings, when brought before Pilate : 
Thou couldst have no power at all against me, 
except it zcere given from above. So keep 
your eye to that which is above all Herods, 
Pilates, Judases, and the High-priests, to the 
Eternal Power by which you were called of 
God, to bear a testimony for his Name in your 
day. And as long as ye feel this power sus- 
taining you, ye cannot be weary ; but rather 
rejoice, yea, leap for joy ; considering the crown 
of your calling, and that ye are counted wor- 
thy to suffer for the name's sake of Him that 
died for us, and that is risen again, and reigu- 
eth for evermore. And if we suffer with Him, 
and abide faithful to the end, we know that 
we shall reign with Him for ever ; and not 
only so, but even in this life. He will make a 
way and deliver his people, and crown them 
with victory, after their sufficient trials. 

" And as concerning the outward goods and 
sustenance of this life, dear friends, observe 
the command of our Lord, to take care but for 
one day at once, and He will give sufficient 
for that. For his purpose is to wean you from 
2 d 2 



316 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



the visible dependencies, that ye may, with 
the more brightness and clearness, embrace 
the true riches. Therefore it will be good for 
every one to contract all their outward affairs, 
into as narrow a compass as may be, and to 
owe to no man any thing but love, and to 
let that have a free passage, even to their per- 
secutors; that so, with a clear and a free 
spirit, you may behold all things here below, 
without joy in their increase, or sorrow 
in their decrease ; giving up yourselves 
and yours into the hand of God, who cares for 
you, and who hath not let forth the wrath of 
man upon you in his anger, but for the trial of 
your faith, which is more precious than gold 
or outward goods. And as for tbem, the loss 
will be rewarded in this time, a hundred-fold, 
besides an inestimable treasure laid up in 
heaven. 

" So God Almighty keep you low and ten- 
der of his glory, and furnish you with patience, 
wisdom, and with every good work." 



OF STEPHEN CIUSP. 317 

No. 33. "An Epistle from S. Crisp to 
Friends in Amsterdam. 1684. — 3 pages. 

This is a short Epistle of Christian caution 
and advice. 



No. 34. " A Faithful Warning and Ex- 
hortation to Friends, to beware of Seducing 
Spirits, fyc. 1G84. — 17 pages. 

This is an important and valuable Tract. It 
refers to the schism which had taken place in 
the Society, and shows the origin and objects 
of the establishment of the Discipline. 

The Author ably traces some of the cause* 
of the corruption of primitive Christianity; 
and warns his fellow members against those 
" devices of Satan," which he states to have 
been so fatal to the primitive Church. 

I have made copious extracts from this 
Epistle, 

S .9 3 



Si8 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" Dear Friends, 

u You know how (hat God in his infinite 
love hath visited us with a very glorious day, 
in which his Sun of Righteousness is so risen 
upon us, that the heavenly warmth thereof 
hath quickened and enlightened us, and made 
us to sla d up and serve Him in our day and 
generation ; and the virtue of that blessed life 
in Christ Jesus, being revealed in the souls of 
them that have truly believed, hath given them 
g; : eat power over death, and hath made them 
able to grapple with Satan in all his divers ap- 
pearances, and to overcome him. So that which 
"way soever he hath hitherto sought to eclipse 
the glory and brightness of this great and no- 
table day of the Lord, he hath hitherto been 
frustrated in his purpose, and his instruments 
bave been made ashamed of their work ; for 
all that are true children of the day, do find 
that their standing is by faith, and not by 
knowledge; and are, by their faith, kept in a 
boly dependence upon the power of Him that 
-can overcome all things, and bring them un- 
der. So that whatever doth arise against the 
Truth, the faith of there, that are in it lets them, 
"^•yen in the beginning of it, see to the end of 



OF STEPHEN "CRISP. 319 

it, and gives them a certainty in themselves, 
by which they are settled in patient and quiet 
waiting to see the thing they believe brought 
to pass; and this is their victory, even their 
faith : and they who dwell in this faith are not 
"weary, neither do they faint iu all the various 
exercises they meet withal by the way ; but 
can endure contradiction without discourage- 
ment, knowing that whatever it is that riseth 
up against the power and purpose of God 
shall in time be laid low. 

" And this is the same faith that was once 
delivered to the saints in the primitive days, 
when Christjthe Resurrection and the Life, was 
preached unto them ; in whom they believed, 
and by whom they were enabled both to do 
and to suffer what his will was, and to with- 
stand the torrent and sea of contradictions they 
then met withal. And the word of God grew 
mightily ; and their zeal and courage grew 
for the Name of God ; so that no stratagem 
■devised against them could prosper, as long 
as they kept in the simplicity of the Gospel, 
and held their faith which they had in a pure 
conscience. Here were their great fortifica- 
tions, that made them so prevalent and immu- 
table, viz. simplicilj/ and cleanness of mindj 



S20 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



and as long as these continued, tbey continued 
of one heart and mind', glorifying God, and 
building up one another, and comforting one 
another, and were as epistles written in one 
another's hearts. 

"Now when Satan saw that it was impossi- 
ble to stop this glorious work of God by all 
he could do, by stirring up the priests and 
rulers against them, but that their strength was 
in the Lord, they standing in their simplicity 
and purencss of mind ; then the adversary 
sought out ways, means, and instruments, how 
to disturb their progress, by drawing one or 
other among themselves from that simplicity 
of the Gospel of Christ, in which they had 
been of one heart, and had believed and prac- 
tised the same things without vain disputations; 
and having found some unstable souls fit for 
his purpose, he wrought powerfully in them 
to move questions, which had a tendency 
to draw others forth to striving about the 
question. 

a Then one would have it thus, and the 
other would maintain it to be so ; neither of 
them minding whether the question itself tend- 
ed to the use of edify ing the Church ; but a great 






OF STEPHEN CRISP. 321 

stir was quickly raised, and that about some few 
Jewish rights, and about some right and wrong 
descents of genealogies; one would prove it 
thus, and the other so. And here was a door 
opened to let in the carnal wisdom, to be the 
weapons of this war, by which the pure inno- 
cent minds of many were corrupted, and some 
whole households subverted ; which, when 
Satan had thus far prevailed, he went on fur- 
ther, and gave courage to some of these his 
high-minded, heady, unruly servants, to go 
abroad throughout the Churches, and preach 
up these his questions as doctrines, and to 
seduce and draw away all they could from the 
simplicity of the Gospel. 

" And these were so prevalent as to bewitch 
and betray many ; so that they were embold- 
ened to withstand the true apostles, in that 
glorious work in which Christ Jesus had em- 
ployed them. So that now a great deal of 
their work was to warn the poor flock of Christ 
of these wolves in sheep's clothing, and to give 
out testimonies of their own sincerity, and 
against these deceitful workers ; and to open 
and unfold the mysterious working of that 
evil spirit, and how it wrought cunningly to 
make void the offence of the cross, that they 



322 review or the works 






might carry on the name and outward profes- 
sion of Christianity, with more reputation and 
less reproach than at the first ; for this was the 
design, to get the Christians into a false li- 
berty, and to loosen their hearts from that sin" 
cerity and watchfulness which was taught them 
in the beginning. And to what a height the 
subtle serpent carried on his work in that day, 
you may read at large in the Scriptures of 
Truth ; and what sad and woful work it made 
in Corinth, in Galatia, in Smyrna, in Thyatira, 
and in Laodicea, and also in Achaia ; and what 
sorrow and labour it cost the good Apostles, 
and how the good Spirit was grieved by these 
things, and the hearts of the righteous made 
sad thereby. 

Yet the enemy had, in those days, another 
stratagem as bad as all the rest, whereby he 
sought to lay waste the work of God ; for after 
the Gospel came to spread abroad, and 
many were convinced, both Jews and Gen- 
tiles, many Greeks also came to acknowledge 
the Truth, who had been great seekers after na- 
tural wisdom, and had sought to fathom natural 
causes and effects, and had studied many cu- 
rious arts, and philosophical strains and me- 
thods, which suited well with their heathenish 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 323 

worship and religion, forthemto endeavour to 
find out the benevolent or malevolent influences 
of Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, or the other of the 
gods whom they worshipped. But when they 
came to the acknowledgment of the one only 
true and living God, the Creator of all, and 
of Jesus Christ whom He had sent, then they 
found their curious arts needless, and their 
books fit for nothing but the fire ; and they 
burnt in one city as many as were worth 
50,000 pieces of silver. But, alas ! the spirit 
that made use of them was not burnt in several, 
but wrought cunningly to bring in many of 
those their tricks and quirks among the poor 
believers, and endeavoured to make them be- 
lieve they were such knowing men and had such 
rare things to make them acquainted with, far 
beyond the Apostles. And then they went 
to work with the opposition of science, as they 
falsely called it ; and then things must be 
questioned and disputed that had not a philo- 
sophic or natural reason, to demonstrate to 
the senses or understanding ; and hereby was 
the faith of some made void, and many were 
spoiled of their sincerity and uprightness by 
these vain deceits, and then came in looseness 
in conversation. Then a Nicholas with his 
lianterism — a Jezabel with her pretended 



354 REVIEW OP THE WORKS 

loose and wanton prophecies — a Balaam with 
his covetous design upon the people, might 
find some to side with them ; for the holy 
tye and covenant of their religion of bearing a 
daily cross was broken: but, alas! alas! the 
effect of these things was very lamentable. 

" And, dear friends, having briefly touched 
at these things, and before you set these pro- 
ceedings of Satan against the Truth among the 
primitive Christians, I now come to tell you 
in great plainness and sincerity what hath for 
some months lain upon my mind relating to 
this subject, and concerning the day in which 
we live, and the Dispensation of that everlast- 
ing Gospel which is now preached again unto 
us, in which we found the very same blessed 
effects as they did. For when we had believed 
therein, it brought us into great simplicity, 
and into cleanness of mind, and into an un- 
feigned love and unity one with another; and 
from what parts or countries soever we came, 
we all spake the same things ; and the quirk- 
ing, querying, disputing ^it, was brought 
down, and cast out from among us. 

" Though we could query and dispute the 
opposers that were without in defence of the 






OF STEPHEN CRISP. 325 

Truth, yet we had then no such occasion 
among them that professed Truth; for we 
were of one heart, and mind, and judgment; 
and, in that universal love, we laboured to 
build up one another in our most holy faith, 
and to publish and make known the blessed 
Name of Jesus, in whom we had believed; 
and many were daily added to the Church, 
and came to partake of the same faith and of 
the same love, and grew into the same simpli- 
city of mind, wherein we found a harmonious 
rejoicing in spirit whenever we saw one ano- 
ther. In this state did the Truth preserve us; 
and our faith was firm in that name and power 
by which we were called, that the Lord 
would go before us, and prosper us in his bless- 
ed way ; in which He caused our souls to take 
great delight, and take up the daily cross cheer- 
fully, and deny ourselves for the sake of Him 
that had called us. 

" But the old Enemy of Truth envied this 
our tranquillity quickly, and began to work in 
some -where he found a ground to work in, and 
sought to lead them from the simplicity of the 
Truth, and to exalt their minds in the sight of 
things opened by the Truth. And so these did 
not abide in the tender fear of God, and in the 
2 E 



326 KEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

humility of the innocent Seed, but flew up in 
airy notions and imaginations, some into a 
false liberty, and others into strange imagina- 
tions of their own growth to some high state; 
and so grew heady and unruly, and were har- 
dened against exhortations, rather judging 
themselves fit to teach, than to be taught. 
And these drew several after them through an 
affection that was not subject to the cross; and 
became an occasion of offence and stumbling 
to many who were enquiring after the way of 
the Lord, and a great exercise and sorrow to 
such as kept in the travail and labour for Sion's 
redemption. 

" But those that abode in the faith, knew that 
the power in which they had believed would 
arise, and crush down and bruise under that 
lofty, airy spirit, and all that abode in it, and 
did not repent and return to their first love, 
and do their first works. And according as 
we believed it came to pass, and their works 
with which they sought to amuse and astonish 
the nations, were confounded and brought to 
nought ; and divers that did adhere and cleave 
to that spirit, were lost and scattered, and 
grew into profaneness and uncleanness, and 
shove against the Power of God, that wrought 



OF STEPHEX CEISP. 327 

in his people, to reclaim and regain them ; till, 
at length, the very Power of God turned against 
them, and cut them off who had been the 
troublers. 

" Yet did not the Serpent leave off attempt- 
ing to betray the innocent ; but found out 
other instruments fit for his purpose, whom he 
raised up under pretence of some new disco- 
veries, accompanied with a voluntary humili- 
ty, and a seeming self-denial ; when, indeed, 
the design was to exalt self and man's work, 
wit, and reason, above the Eternal Power of 
God, and through feigned pretences to obtain 
a dominion over the heritage of God ; and to 
impose and obtrude upon them things which 
were not taught by the living Spirit of Christ 
Jesus in themselves,nor had been received by 
doctrine or message from the true spiritual 
labourers in the Gospel. By which means 
the minds of many were betraj'ed, and they 
were exercised in contending about some 
outward signs or tokens of their separation ; till 
the weighty matter they should have minded, 
viz. how to be kept in the love of God, and in 
the heavenly unity ^ was in many lost and for- 
gotten ; and instead thereof, a secret root of 
bitterness grew up, and a hatred against the 
2 e 2 



328 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



prosperity of the Church of God, and the 
faiilrful servants and ministers of it ; insomuch 
that they lost the very sense of God's blessed 
presence amongst us, and reckoned He had 
forsaken us. 

" And thereupon many ofthem also forsook 
us, and were as another people ; and were puff- 
ed up with great expectations of our downfall, 
and their own exaltation ; and began to 
spread their design of separation into other 
nations, to the hurt of many who were de- 
ceived by them. So that the tender love of 
God, that had wrought in the hearts of the 
faithful labourers and ministers of the Gospel, 
to the gathering them out of the world, now 
wrought again effectually, to gather many of 
them out of this self-separation ; and with great 
patience and long-suffering, did we travail and 
labour with many. And the Lord beheld our 
sincerity and care, and blessed his work in 
our hand; so tbat the eyes of many were 
opened to see the crafty snares by which they 
were entangled ; and power was given them 
of God, to break through and testify against 
the crafty wiles of them that had deceived 
them. And the Lord arose in his great and 
mighty power, in and among his people, and 
set an eternal judgment on the head of that 



OF STEPHEN cms?. SaS 

spirit, and its work of dissension and separa- 
tion that it had wrought ; and it could then 
proceed no further, but withered and came to 
nought : and those who wilfully resisted the 
offers of the love of God, and of his people, 
they grew more and more corrupt, and perish- 
ed wholly from the way of the Lord, and the 
society of his people, and turned back, some 
into the world's worship and religions, others 
into the gross pollutions that are therein. 

" And the Churches of Christ, who stood 
faithful and true to the leading of his Spirit, 
came to have rest from that extreme labour 
and travail which they had lain several years 
under, by reason of these things j and God ful- 
filled the prophecies of divers of his faithful 
servants, who by their faith had seen, and by 
the spirit had testified at the beginning of that 
spirit's work, what the end of it should be; for 
many there were who saw, that it was from the 
earth, and thither it would return ; and there it 
was swallowed up, and all its substance. Then 
did the souls of the faithful give glory and ho- 
nour to God, in whose hand is power and domi- 
nion ; and He reigns on high in his strength^ 
and is King of saints, and the defence of his, 
Sion, now, henceforth, and for evermore. 
8 e. 3. 



OOO REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" These exercises put and stirred up all tire 
faithful to great vigilance and watchfulness, 
for the keeping the enemy out for the future, 
at least, as much as in them lay. And those 
that were faithful and ancient friends, both 
men and women, found it incumbent upon 
them to meet together to watch over the flock, 
and to see to the conversations of them who 
professed the Truth, that it might answer their 
professions ; and where the contrary appeared, 
to deal with them, and to reclaim them if 
possible, or else to deny therm, and to clear 
Truth and Friends of them and their disor- 
derly courses. And in this good work the 
Lord blessed them, and shewed his presence 
among them, and gave them wisdom and un- 
derstanding ; and they took care of the widows 
and fatherless, of the poor and afflicted families 
among them ; and had the care upon them con- 
cerning marriages, that none might come to- 
gether in a disorderly manner, but that all 
things might be clear on either side, and the 
consent of parents might be obtained before 
marriage; and that all things might be kept 
in good order, and savoury irt the sight of God 
and men. 

" And divers epistles were written from seve- 
ral elder brethren, for their encouragement and 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 331 

direction in this good work ; for we knew it 
was God's work, and would tend to the limit- 
ing of loose and unruly Spirits, who sought 
liberty more than sincerity; and sensuality 
more than Christ's government, and their sub- 
jection to the Divine Power of God. And 
when some exalted spirits came to see unto 
what this work would tend, they took offence 
thereat, and sought to weaken the hands of the 
faithful friends in this good work, under pre- 
tence, That all must be left to the witness of 
God ; and if people did not find judgment in 
themselves for what they did, they must not be 
judged by others ; being themselves gone 
from Truth's judgment and hardened. Then 
they cried out of innovation and imposition, 
and such like.. 

"And hereupon were many again seduced 
and subverted, and drawn away from their 
steadfastness in the Truth, and began to ap- 
pear against the good order of the Lord's 
people, and to reflect upon the godly care 
that lay upon them, with unhandsome and un- 
savoury speeches and writings, till a secret 
root of bitterness and enmity got into several 
that had been convinced. And, in this root, 
the enemy wrought with great craft and 
subtilty, to draw them from the blessed unitv 



oJZ REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

that is in Christ Jesus, the true Head of the 
true Church, and brought them into many jea- 
lousies and groundless fears of an apostasy ; 
while, in the mean time, he drew them so far 
to apostatize from their first love and first 
works, that they proceeded to expose friends, 
both in particular and in general, to the re- 
proach and scorn of the world, as much as in 
them lay. 

" All which was borne and suffered with 
much long-suffering and patience ; and a 
great travail lay upon many to endeavour for 
the reducement of them that did thus oppose 
themselves ; for we knew our sincerity, and 
knew that the Lord would stand by us, and 
bless our work and labour of love, and blast 
their work of enmity ; and their striving 
against the Lord, and his blessed work in the 
hand of his innocent people, would not, nor 
could prosper. We doubted not at all, but He 
that had stood by us, and helped us from the 
beginning, would still stand by us, and give 
his Truth and people the victory over every 
tongue and pen that rose up in judgment 
against us ; as He hath done to this day; and 
their work is manifest, and they can proceed 
no further* Blessed be his Name for ever, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 333 

" Now, dear friends, I have made this brief 
relation of the fore-mentioned passages, that 
they who are young in the Truth may see, 
and they who are older may be put in mind, 
how the old adversary of Truth hath already 
wrought in this our day,, and what hath been 
the end and tendency of his work in all his 
various appearances, even as in the primitive 
days, to stop the bright shining of the Gospel, 
if he could. And whereas he is not able to do 
that, his next work is to see whom he may 
devour; that is, whom he may so ensnare and 
entrap with his subtle baits and gins, as that he 
may, first, draw them from the simplicity of 
the Truth; next, into anexaltedness in knowr 
ledge ; then, into prejudice and enmity against 
those that stand in the way to hinder their ex- 
alted notions ; and by this time he hath taught 
them to break the law of charity, and to think 
evilly of the upright, and to disestecm the 
blessed unity and fellowship that is in the 
Truth ; and then they are fitted for schism 
and separation, upon one specious pretence or 
another. Therefore how watchful ought every 
one to be, for the keeping out this destroying 
spirit, which hath brought several already to 
that enmity and defiance to the Truth and 
people of God, that, if it had been told them. 



334: REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

in the days of their tender convincement, they 
would have been ready to say with Hazael : 
Is thy servant a dog, that he should do these 
things ? 

" And, friends, know this for certain, that 
Satan is still working, and seeks to winnow 
you ; and where there doth remain, after a long 
convincement, a lightness and an airiness in 
any, such are easily driven with his pernicious 
winds ; and to this purpose he hath stirred up 
some in several cities and countries, such as 
he knows are fit for his purpose, who never 
knew a real mortification upon that earthly 
sensual wisdom that is from beneath ; but have 
too much saved that alive in themselves, which 
God did, in their first convincement, pass a sen- 
tence of death upon. And these, as they cannot 
reach to a partaking of the life of Truth in 
themselves, no more can they reach or attain 
to the hidden mystery of the unity that the 
Lord's people have one with another in that 
life of Truth ; but another life and a power 
they have; and in it they grow head-strong 
and fierce, despisers of them that are born of 
the Spirit ; yea, they grow in wisdom from 
one degree to another, but it is neither pure 
nor peaceable, gentle, nor easy to be entreated. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 335 

By their fruits ye may know them ; for, from 
this wisdom are they often found starting some 
subtle and abstruse questions, to amuse the 
minds of the simple, and to cause the weak in 
the faith to err, and to draw away the unstable 
souls after them, as if they had brought forth 
some new discoveries ; and then here is work 
for disputing wits ; by all which the minds are 
drawn farther and farther from the true watch- 
fulness, that becomes those who have such an 
enemy to deal wiihal. 

" Hence it is that all those janglings are 
sprung about the forbidden fruit, what it was, 
and whether good for food, or not good for 
food; upon which some have closed with that 
primitive and first error, with which Eve was 
ensnared, and have judged it good for food; 
yea, and have fed upon it too, till their know- 
ledge hath grown greater in the evil than in 
the good. Hence it is that another starts 
questions about the mortality or immortality 
of the soul. Another, of the state of the soul 
after the death, of the body, whether it abides a 
singular essence, or ceaseth to have any singu- 
lar essence or being. Another about the state 
of the body after death. Another about how 
many bodies one and the same soul may, or 



336 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

must have, at sundry times. Another, how 
long the wicked men or angels must endure 
the wrath of God for rebellion. Another comes 
forth and says, There is no such thing as wrath 
or anger in God, and all that is written thereof 
in the Holy Scriptures is but metaphorically 
spoken. And many more such like phantasies 
and doting questions, doth this birth bring 
forth of the trial of your faith and steadfast- 
ness in the Truth, by which the enemy is, as I 
said, trying and winnowing, to see where he 
may meet with his own, and may deceive and 
draw away some from the faith and unity, 
and teach them some other way and doctrine 
besides the narrow way of regeneration. 

ei Now, my dear and well 'beloved in the 
Lord, you are witnesses unto this day, in how 
great simplicity and plainness of speech we 
have preached the Avord of God among you, 
from the day the Lord sent us forth to this 
day. We came not unto you with enticing 
words, we needed not logical nor philosophi- 
cal demonstrations ; for our testimony had 
the demonstration and evidence of the Spirit 
of Truth in your hearts ; and our words, or 
the word of God in our mouths, hath not 
altered nor changed unto this day, but re- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 337 

mains the same as it ever was. The great 
doctrine of the Gospel was and is Regenera- 
tion, without which there is no entrance. The 
only means and way to attain it, was and is 
that light and grace that comes by Jesus 
Christ: and sanctifies, and purifies, and brings 
to Him, by whom the entrance is ministered 
into the kingdom. These things have we de- 
clared ; and these things ye have believed : 
and in this faith are many of our faithful bre- 
thren fallen asleep, and their precious souls 
are at rest with the Lord. And herein if ye 
abide steadfast to the end, ye shall do well. 

"And as concerning all such who seek to 
trouble any of your minds with the things 
above mentioned, or any subtle and crafty ques- 
tions, keep you your habitations in the power 
of God, and you will daiby come more and 
more to discern the tendency of them ; how- 
it is a spirit that works against the cross, and 
seeks to cause the offence of it to cease, that 
they might bear a profession of Truth, and live 
in a loose conversation, without controul or 
judgment; and you will see them come to 
nous-lit, like others before them. 



2 F 



538 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" And for the carrying on this kind of liber* 
linism, divers strange notions are hatched and 
spread about, to corrupt the minds of whom 
they can ; for Satan, who is the author of 
them, knows well how to apply them to the 
advancement of his own kingdom ; and for 
the easing or rather hardening the consciences 
of such who receive these things, that they 
may thereupon shake off the sense which some- 
time they had of the righteous judgment of 
God, and slight the judgment of his people, 
and give the reigns to their lusts and passions ; 
and yet all the while make a profession and 
outside appearance among the innocent people 
of God. 

<c O friends ! these are the blots and spots 
that are among us ; these are they by whose 
means the holy Name of God is blasphemed, 
and his blessed pure way evil spoken of by 
many, and the hearts of the upright made sad 
from day to day : these are such as cost the 
apostle tears when he writ, I told you of them 
before, and now tell you weeping ; they are 
enemies to the cross of Christ. These cause 
the feet of some to stumble, and others to pe- 
rish from the way of the Lord ; and yet, all 
the while, carry a secret bolster under them to 



OF STEPHEN CIlISP 339 

bear themselves upon, having let in a belief or 
supposition, either that there is no such zerath 
and judgment to be expected from the hand of 
God, as hath been largely spoken and written 
of by the prophets, Christ, and his apostles, 
and all the faithful ministers of the Gospel 
unto this day; or, if there be zerath and 
judgment to be revealed, it mil be but for a 
time, and then they shall be restored to glory 
and happiness : or, if they fall short of a due 
fitting and preparing for the kingdom of God 
on this side of the grave, it is no great matter; 
for they shall have other opportunities even 
in this world hereafter, when they shall be born 
in other bodies. 

" Some few secretly bolster themselves up, 
and endeavour to possess others, with the suppo- 
sition or notion of the finite punishment of wick- 
ed men and devils in the world to come ; as 
where the Holy Scriptures mention, everlast- 
ing fire — the sin against the Holy Ghostnever 
to be forgiven in this world, nor in that which 
is to come — eternal judgment — vengeance of 
eternal fire — the smoke of their torment shall 
ascend up for ever and ever, Sfc. as plainly de- 
clared by Christ and his holy apostles and 
2 f 2 



340 REVIEW OP THE WORKS 

Gospel ministers, these they limit to only 
ages. 

" Another bolsters himself up with a belief, 
that if he doth evil, his hell is only here in his 
own conscience; but, when he leaves the world, 
till things will be as if they had not been, and 
the soul shall die with the body, and suffer an 
annihilation as well as the body, or shall be 
swallowed up out of all particularity , as a drop 
of water into the sea, so then what matter. 
And this is the evil seedsman, sowing these 
cursed seeds of fleshly liberty and ranterism, 
even in our day ; and hath prevailed upon 
some to their destruction ; and they that are se- 
duced, as the apostle saith, do wax worse and 
worse, seducing whom they can by these their 
pernicious ways; the consequences whereof are 
woful and lamentable to consider, and have 
cost me and many more great sorrow and 
grief." 

" And, friends, to you who have not known 
the depths of Satan, I have a few things to 
offer to your serious consideration. First, 
You know in what manner you were con- 
vinced, and how your understandings were 
opened, and you were brought to the acknow- 



t)F STEPHEN CRISP. 34 

ledgment of the Truth. Was it not by the 
shining of that true light of Christ Jesus in 
jour souls, which, by its inward working, 
shewed you that your souls were made subject 
to a power of darkness, that had defiled them, 
and made them unfit for God to dwell in and 
to take delight in ? Then you saw what a con- 
trariety and disproportion there was between 
the pure Light and your impure souls ; where- 
upon judgment from God was manifest for the 
curbing, limiting, and destroying of that 
power, which had thus defiled the minds and 
consciences. 

" And when ye came to believe this judg- 
ment to be the very judgment of God, ye sub- 
mitted to it, as right and due unto you; and 
as ye thus submitted to it, ye quickly found 
some power to withstand the temptations af 
the dark power that had captivated you. And 
did you not then feel your souls somewhat eased, 
and a hope raised, that as ye abode faithful 
unto that Light, you might obtain power tv 
withstand your soul's enemy in all his appear- 
ances ? So that the faith that was delivered 
unto you in the beginning, was, that your souk 
should be so sanctified, fitted, and piepared, 
as to become a habitation for God, and that 
2 ¥ 3 



342 REVIEW 01? THE WORKS 



He would so strengthen you, that ye should 
be able to stand against Satan and his power 
who sought to defile and destroy the soul. 
And they that have been diligent and kept 
tliis faith, have found it to be a shield and de- 
fence in the times of their trials and tempta- 
tions. So that they have found victory by it ; 
and their souls have come to know a deliver- 
ance from under the enemy's power, and 
have received ability to serve the Lord, and 
have felt the blessed freedom and liberty in 
the Truth, which they so much desired and 
longed fur. 

" Now, wherefore hath all this work been, to 
redeem the soul, and to convert it, and change 
it from under the dark power, and to bring 
it under the heavenly and glorious power of 
Christ Jesus ? I ask them that have known this 
work. Was it only for a few days or years, 
that we are to continue here in these bodies? 
Or was it not the effect of the eternal love of 
God in Christ, that in Him our souls might, be 
eternally happy ? I know such as have truly 
known this travail, do know the soul to be 
more worth than the value and worth of the 
T>iiole world,, and they are not liable to the 



d 



OT STEPHEN CRISF. 343 

seducements of such as "would undervalue the 
soul. 

" Bui, alas ! there are too many that never 
knew what it was to travail for souls, neither 
in themselves nor in others ; but have re- 
ceived a sight and knowledge of things at a 
distance, in a speculative way, as lookers on. 
And these having grown up into a profession 
by a sight, without a real work in themselves, 
are very ready to be seduced, and to seduce 
others : and, wanting the substance that never 
waxeth old, are always itching after some new 
1hing, which for a time seems to be delightful 
to them, till a newer thing is presented ; and 
then they are for that also ; and so are always 
gadding and changing their v. ays, till at last 
they are, by the mastering subtlety of their 
soul's enemy, who hath power in sucli unstable 
minds, led back again into the world, or into 
divers sects, heats, and opinions, that are of 
the world : and a false liberty gets up in them, 
in which they grow heady and stubborn, and 
look upon ever} r one that seeks to reclaim them 
as their enemy. And they let in hard and bit- 
ter thoughts against them ; and the enemy 
-fills them with prejudice; and in that slate 
dhey seek for the failings of others, and feed 



344 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

upon them as bread to strengthen themselves; 
and so grow more and more estranged from 
the innocent life that is in Jesus, and that He 
hath given for food for the children of the 
kingdom. 

" O ! this is a sad condition ; and I have often 
with deep sorrow lamented the state of some 
to whose hands peradventure this may come? 
when I have seen what a good beginning they 
have made in the way of God, and have been 
as pleasant plants, and hopeful to bring forth 
much fruit to the honour of God, and comfort 
of his people, and especially to the comfort 
and salvation of their own immortal souls: 
and yet who, after some good progress made in 
the Lord's May, for want of a diligent watch- 
fulness and keeping close to the daily cross 
and the self-denial, have laid themselves open 
to the spoilers, who have cunningly got an en- 
trance into them ; some in the affectionate 
part — some in the wise reasoning part — some 
through sowing the seeds of prejudice—and 
some one way, and some another; and 
have beguiled them of the simplicity, and 
drawn them from the sincerity, that is in the 
Truth ; and so they have both lost their first 
love, and their first work also. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 345 

" And of these some are so far dead, that 
they have lost ail sense and feeling of that love 
of God that worketh in the hearts of his peo- 
ple, for the regaining of them ; and to such I 
shall say little, but tell them, My soul shall 
mourn for them in secret, until the Lord easeth 
my spirit concerning them. Bat for the rest 
"who do yet retain something of a love to the 
Lord's people, and have sometimes an ear yet 
open to hear counsel ; to these I say, God 
hath put it into my heart to warn you, that ye 
strengthen those things that are ready to die, 
before the Lord appear against you for your 
hard words and hard thoughts ; and come 
.down in humility, and feel after the first ten- 
derness and brokenness of heart which once 
you felt, and hold a fast to the Lord." 

" And, friends, let me use yet one argument 
more with you, to persuade you to turn into 
the unity and fellowship of the Truth and 
power of God, in which ye sometimes took 
delight with us to walk in it; and that is an 
argument from your own experience, to wit, 
the feebleness that hath fallen upon many of 
you, since ye departed from the heavenly 
unity with your ancient friends and brethren. 



346 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

What a decay of strength and courage in the 
bearing forth the several testimonies for the 
Name of Christ, as they were received from 
the beginning ; and, by the faithful followers 
of Him, are to this day kept and accounted of, 
as of more worth than a little outward liberty 
or estate, or such like. 

"But O! my friends, how is this tye loos- 
ened ? And how is fleshly reasoning gotten up 
to shun the cross, and the sufferings that attend 
the Gospel, and an unreadiness in many to 
give up themselves for his Name's sake. So 
lhat they are as if they had lost their spiritual 
armour, and their fervent zeal and love to the 
Truth, and the testimonies of it, which once 
were dearer to them than their all in this tran- 
sitory world. And it is indeed impossible 
that the love to God and his Truth should re- 
main in its former strength, when the love to 
the brethren decays. They came together, 
and they will go together. And the want of 
this love to God and to his people, is the 
ground of declining Truth's testimony, and 
using indirect ways to shift and shun the suf- 
ferings that come for Truth's sake ; by which 
the hands of Truth's enemies are strengthened, 
and many stumbling-blocks have been laid in 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 347 

the way of the weak. I beseech you to con- 
sider these things, and lay them to heart, 
while there is a day and opportunity to return 
to your first love, and to your first zeal for the 
Truth." 



No. 35. " An Epistle from Stephen Crisp 
to Friends." 1685. — 4 pages. 

This is too good and too short to admit of 
curtailment. 

" Dearly beloved friends and brethren in 
the everlasting fellowship, that stands in the 
Spirit of Christ Jesus, our one Head, I do at 
this time dearly and tenderly salute you, in a 
fresh and living remembrance of the precious 
unity and joy in the pure Spirit of Life, in 
which we have been mutually refreshed toge- 
ther in years past ; when I, according to the 
will of God, travelled and laboured among you 
in my younger days with great consolation, 
rejoicing greatly in beholding your order and 
unity in the blessed Truth, in which ye pros- 
pered, and were as an army with banners in 



348 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

the Lamb's host, who went forth conquering 
among you, and defending and preserving 
you, by his Almighty Power, from the mani- 
fold snares of Satan, that were laid for your 
feet. But you that are ancient can remember 
with joy, how you were kept steadfast and un- 
movable in the holy path of life, and in the 
blessed concord ; being of one heart and mind, 
bent to serve the Lord and his blessed Truth. 
I say, the remembrance of these things is pre- 
cious to me, and to you who retain the 
simplicity of the Gospel of Christ our 
Saviour. 

"And, dear hearts, as ye have met with many 
assaults to break your blessed unity, so it is 
not to be expected, but that still your great 
adversary will go about, seeking whom he may 
devour. And he, knowing that your strength 
is not in yourselves, but in that Seed of life 
that hath in all ages broke his head, and over- 
come him in and for the faithful ; therefore his 
work is to draw from that Seed, and from that 
sweet dependency upon it, into some strange 
ground, where you may be removed from your 
strength, and be made a prey to his net. And 
therefore, as that Seed is meek and lowly, if the 
adversary can but exalt any into the contrary 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 349 

property, they are prepared for him. And as 
that Seed is not of this world, if he can draw any 
into the spirit of this world, they are prepared 
for him. And as that Seed is patient and long- 
suffering, if he can draw any into haste and 
passion, they are prepared for him. 

" And as that Seed made himself of no re- 
putation, and sought not honour in this world, 
if Satan can but draw any to affecting repu- 
tation and honour, they are prepared for him; 
and from hence come grindings, heart-burn- 
ingSj back-bitings, jealousies, and mistrust — 
which gender strife and contentions — which 
break out into schisms and rents, under vari- 
ous pretences — which give room for the cor- 
rupt wit and wisdom that is from beneath, to 
raise disputes and janglings, that are not of 
God, but of the lusts ; the ground of wars and 
contentions, which are hurtful to those con- 
cerned in them. But in Christ Jesus is our 
peace and tranquillity, in whom we have 
grown up to be a Church and body, to his 
honour and glory, and to our salvation ; in 
whom we rejoice together, and have dominion 
over the works of the wicked one, in the par- 
ticular, and in the general ; and, by His power, 
have seen the counsels of the disobedient 
2 G 



350 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

brought to nought many a time ; and He is 
the same still as ever He was. Therefore be 
ye not discouraged at any work of the enemy, 
which you see appearing; but keep in the 
Lamb's patience, and have faith in the Lion of 
the tribe of Judith, and be assured that his 
work in your hand shall prosper, as ye abide 
in his Spirit, which is unchangeable and in- 
vincible. 

'•' And, dear friends, as concerning your 
present exercises that ye labour under, through 
discontents of some amongst you, let none 
faint in their minds, as if some strange thing 
had happened to you : let none be overcome 
with a zeal beyond sound judgment, but re- 
member that the dominion belongs to the meek 
and innocent seed ; which will guide you to be 
tender and condescending to the brethren of 
low degree, and to keep inviolable the law of 
charity, and to heal the broken and wounded, 
and to restore that which is hurried out of the 
way by temptation ; making a difference be- 
tween the tender hearted, and the wilful, and 
heady, fierce despisers, who are easily known 
by their fruits. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 551 

" And, dearly beloved, this is a windy day, 
or a day of winds, in which that which is in 
itself chaff will be blown away ; and what the 
North wind doth not remove, will be driven 
with the East wind ; and what persecution 
doth not cause to start presently, the winds of 
dissension and seducements will drive away : 
and many are lost already, and many more 
will be lost, who have lost the innocent and 
beautiful love that first shined among us, and 
made us amiable to one another. These having 
lost their first love, it is no marvel if the first 
works decay also. 

" And hence come the self-love, and shun- 
ning the cross, and a desire after the worldly 
and fleshly liberty, in which many are entan- 
gled, and become enemies to the cross of 
Christ, and seek to make the offence of it to 
cease ; by which' an enmity doth arise against 
them that bear it, though it works under other 
specious pretences, whose end will be accord- 
ing to their woik, and the day will declare and 
make it manifest. 

" So, dear friends, in bowels of dear and ten- 
der love, having a little opened my heart unto 
you, as a remembrance of that ancient and 
2 g 2 



'52 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

lasting love that hath abounded in my soul to 
you from the beginning, I bid you farewell in 
the Lord ; and the God of Power keep you in 
the unity of his Spirit, and in pureness and 
cleanness of mind, serving the Truth, with 
one heart and mind ; and keep down the cap- 
tious wit, and carnal reasonings, and disputa- 
tion for mastery in all your assemblies. And 
let the Divine sense rule your affairs, and the 
wisdom that conies from above, which ye may 
know by its being peaceable, as well as pure ; 
and those that trust in this gift, need not strive 
nor be hasty, but wait in faith, and exercise 
their patience the appointed time of the 
Father ; and they shall see the desire of their 
souls, and be satisfied. So the God of Power, 
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep and 
support you by his Divine comfortable pre- 
sence, and direct you in his heavenly wisdom, 
to do his holy will in your day and genera- 
tion, is the hearty supplication of 

Your sincere and faithful friend and brother, in 
the kingdom and patience of Christ Jesus, 

u Stephen Crisp*" 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 333 

No, 35. " A Tender Visitation in the love 
of God, unto those people called French Pro- 
testants, zoherever they are scattered, in this 
time of tribulation and persecution, raised 
against them by those called Roman Catholics, 
about matters of Religion." 1GS8.— IS pages. 

The intercourse which our Author had held 
for many years with the Continent, made him 
better acquainted Avith the state of religious 
parties abroad, and probably more interested in 
the circumstances of the French Refugees, than 
might otherwise have been the case. 

The whole of the letter will, I think, be read 
with interest. 

" Friends, in the movings of God's love in 
my heart, I write unto you; and my prayer to 
God is, that He may, by his invisible power, 
open your hearts to receive a word of counsel 
which might tend to your eternal happiness. 

"It is evidentthatyouaregreat sufferers, and 
the fame thereof reached over many lands and 
countries, and hath occasioned many to take 
notice of your hard measure, and to compas- 
sionate your state and condition, and to reach 
2 g 3 



354: ItEVlEW OF THE WOftKS 

out a hand of charity to your relief and assist- 
ance, which is indeed a real fruit of true 
Christianity, and a duty that all Christians 
do owe one to another; yea, to do good to 
all men, and especially to the household of faith. 

" And in this charity, I am drawn forth to 
visit you in these days of your distress, with 
these few lines of counsel and advice, which if 
you receive in sincerity, and with an humble 
mind, ye shall do well, and may reap some 
^benefit by it. 

" And first of all, let your minds be seriously 
'exercised, to consider what is the cause of 
your sufferings, and why the Lord hath per- 
mitted these days of trial and hardship to 
-come upon you. And, by the way, take no- 
tice, I dare not take upon me to be a judge 
over you, and to conclude that God is always 
angry with a people whom He permits to fall 
under great sufferings ; no, far be it from me, 
for who hath suffered more than God's dear 
children in^liis world ? Neither is suffering a 
certain token of being the children of God, 
for many suffer because they have provoked the 
3U>rd to anger by their disobedience to Him; 
sand others suffer for the trial of their faitii 



OP STEPHEN CItlSP. 355 

and that they may be thereby the more puri- 
fied and prepared, either to bear witness to his 
holy Name on earth among the children of 
men, or to possess his heavenly kingdom, into 
■which nothing that is not purified and cleans- 
ed can enter. 

"Now to which of these causes shallbe ascrib- 
ed your present sufferings, is best to be known 
and found out by the light of Truth in your 
own hearts and consciences. And doubtless so 
many of you as will please to sit down and 
seriously to consider 3-our ways in time past, 
will come to an understanding how it stands 
between God and your own souls ; for the 
Lord hath a faithful and true witness in tire 
consciences of every one of you, that hath re- 
gistered your doings from your childhood ; 
and this will bring to your remembrance how 
you have walked before the Lord in the days 
of your prosperity and liberty in your own 
nation, when you sat under your own vines 
and fig-trees ; how short you came in answer- 
ing the loving-kindness ©f God — how little 
that light of understanding was prized, which 
God had bestowed upon you more than the 
rest of your nation. 



S56 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" This will shew you that it was as abomi- 
nable in the sight of God, for you to bow 
down and serve the lusts and passions of your 
own evil hearts, as it was for your neighbours 
to bow down and worship their images of 
stocks and stones. This will bring to mind 
the luxury and wantonness, the strife and emu- 
lation, that was among many of you, and how 
great a part of you pleased yourselves with a 
formality of religion, something differing from 
the rest of the nation; though your lives and 
conversations differed little from others, but 
too much liberty was taken to looseness and 
vanity, and to the lusts and concupiscence of 
the flesh. These things were a grief to the 
Spirit of God, while ye called upon Him in 
words, and dishonoured Him in your lives. 
and gave your adversaries occasion to speak 
evil of you, and of your religion; insomuch 
that it hath been the common report of stran- 
gers and travellers for a long time, that there 
was little difference to be found in the lives 
and conversations of Prostestants and Papists 
in France, till the day came they went to their 
several worships. 

" O friends ! where was the talent of know- 
ledge all this while? For as you knew better 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 357 

than others, and that more light had shined 
unto you ; so should your conversations liave 
shined forth beyond others in sobriety, in tem- 
perance, and in the fear of the Lord, to the 
honour of his holy Name amongst his enemies ; 
and this would have stopped the mouths of 
gainsayers, more abundantly than all thescho- 
lastical and critical arguments formed by force 
of logic and rhetoric, or philosophy, either 
could or ever did. 

" Now, friends, -when Ihese things come to 
be brought up in your remembrance by God*s 
remembrancer in your consciences, shewing 
you your mis-spent time in days past, it will 
work you into humility, and prepare your 
hearts to say With Saul : Lord, what wilt thou 
have me to do? And the Lord will draw nigh 
to you in a strange land, even to as many as 
seek Him diligently ; for all lands are alike 
to Him ; and in every nation, and among every 
people, those that fear Him and work righte- 
ousness, are accepted with Himthrough Jesus 
Christ our Lord ; for He teacheth the humble, 
saith 
ways. 



358 HE VIEW OF THE WORKS 

u And I must tell you, friends, the reason 
why you are still such strangers to the inward 
and Divine teachings of God, is, because you 
are not humble enough, nor poor in spirit 
enough, and so do not know the necessity nor 
want ye have of it ; but are heaping up 
teachers to yourselves, that may please the 
itching ear, and so are diverted from a dili- 
gent hearkening to the voice of God, who is a 
reprover in your own hearts. In the next 
place, it is expedient for you seriously to con- 
sider the cause for which your great sufferings 
come upon you ; it may be you will say it is, 
because you cannot for conscience sake sub- 
scribe certain articles, nor perform and prac- 
tise certain things, which yci believe to be 
contrary to the mind of God, &c. 

Ci You say well : but, my friends, if consci- 
ence must be hearkened to in these respects, 
pray why is there not as great need to answer 
it in your whole lives and conversations ? So 
far as our consciences are illuminated, it is by 
the light of Christ, who lighteth every one 
that cometh into the world with the true Light; 
and so far as conscience is guided by this 
Light, and men suffer themselves to be go- 
verned by such an illuminated conscience 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 359 

they arc kept from every thing that offends" 
God, by the same law of conscience, which is 
light : for the same light that convinceth my 
conscience, that it is sin to bow down to an 
idol, or worship a crucifix, the same convinc- 
eth me in my conscience, that it is a sin to 
lie, to swear, to commit fornication, yea, to 
speak so much as a vain and idle word, or to 
let any evil communication or foolish jesting 
proceed out of my mouth. 

"What a blessing would this be to you, and 
what peace of conscience would it bring into 
your bosoms, if this ride were observed in 
your whole life and conversation ! and surely 
the reason is the same; for if the dictates of 
truth in the conscience be, as you confess, to 
be followed in one thing, why not in all, espe- 
cially so far as we are equally illuminated 
and convinced ? And I would ask which of 
you is not as completely and fully satisfied in 
respect to your conscience, that drunkenness, 
swearing, lying, hypocrisy, pride, &c. are 
contrary to the holy will of the pure God, as 
bowing to an image or crucifix, or subscribing 
any superstitious articles whatsoever. And 
the same light of truth which discovereth the 
one, discovereth. the other, as the apostle 



360 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

saith : Whatsoever is reprovable is made ma- 
nifest by the light, for that which maketh 
manifest is light. 

"But, by the way, I must put you in mind 
of a diversity of working in the consciences 
of men, for all men do not make scruple of 
conscience in matters of religion from one 
and the same ground and cause: for if they 
did, all would be of the same mind with Christ 
and his apostles and the primitive believers, 
who, while they had their consciences all 
governed by the Spirit of Christ Jesus, con- 
tinued together and were of one heart and 
mind. But there are three things principally 
that divert men's consciences from this uni- 
versal rule of holiness, faith, and charity, and 
by these three means, people come to be led 
from the holiness, divided in their faiths, and 
broken in their charity; and I shall touch, 
briefly upon these three, that so the searching 
inquiring soul may be somewhat helped to 
find, whether any of them have the rule and 
government of his conscience or not. 

"1. The first is Education. 
"2. Worldly Interest. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 361 

"3. The subjecting of the conscience to th^ 
government of other men, and thereby being 
made liable to their interest and passions. 

" For the first, Education — it must be con- 
sidered in a twofold consideration, good and 
bad ; for good education hath a great preva- 
lence - upon the mind, as to doctrines, princi- 
ples, and forms and modes of worship; but 
it doth not, alone, convey from the tutor to 
the pupil, the life and virtue of religion; 
that must be done by the immediate opera- 
tion of the power and Spirit of Christ. And 
therefore it is the duty of every one, how good 
soever their education hath been, and how 
sound soever the principles are, that they have 
received, to wait for this Divine operation in 
their hearts, to season and sanctify them, and 
to fit them to bear a testimony to the truth 
which they have learned in words and terms ; 
or else they will grow up in a formal, dead 
profession, and will want the oil in their own 
lamps, although their tutors might have it. 
And such, for want of the true life and virtue of 
religion in themselves, may make conscience 
of this or that form and mode of religion, in 
which they were educated ; and may stand 
in a profession of such or such doctrines and 
2h 



£62 REVIEW OE THE WORKS 

principles; and yet maybe never the better 
lor them as to the great and main end, namely, 
the sanctification of the soul, and reconciliat- 
ion with God, "which the most sound doctrines 
and principles alone will not do. 

'•And as to bad education, and being, tutored 
and nursed up in the dark and erroneous ways 
of the world, that fallen man hath invented ; 
this makes a conscience too, though corrupt 
and defiled through the darkness that is in them 
and their teachers. They grow stiff in. their 
error, and set it up for truth, putting their 
darkness for light, and walking by the light 
of (he fire of their own kindling, crying, Thus 
did our fore-fathers, and pleading antiquity 
for a cloak for error; which makes it not the 
better, but the worse. .And these deceived 
consciences have commonly this property, 
that they will endeavour to make every one's 
conscience like their own, which if any cannot 
yield to, they are for destroying their bodies, 
which shews they are children of the de- 
stroyer, and do his works; of whom Christ 
our Lord prophesied, when he said, They 
shall think they do God service when they kill 
ycu. And still these will tell you it is their 
conscience ; but by their works is manifest 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 36*3 

what it is that hath the governance of such 
consciences; not the sweet Spirit of Christ 
Jesus, but the force of a corrupt education, 
nourished and strengthened by the daily mo- 
tions of Satan. 

"Another thing that seeks to take the go- 
vernment of some men's consciences, is worldly 
interest. These are men of no settled hearty 
religion, but allow themselves a latitude to 
square their ^consciences and professions to 
their worldly profits, pleasures, and advan- 
tages, and so are a sort of Christians without 
the cross of Christ ; and consequently no dis- 
ciples of Christ. For He said, Unless a man 
take up his daily cross, and deny himself, he 
cannot be my disciple. But how hard is it for 
such men to make conscience to keep or to 
act according to a good conscience, where 
worldly loss or damage, either in their profits 
or pleasures, presents. What screwing and 
windings do they make to form their consci- 
ences to look another way. What seeking out 
of arguments and carnal reasonings, to make 
themselves believe otherwise than they really 
do believe; nay, sometimes forcing themselves, 
for their interest, to profess that which they 
do not, nor cannot believe. And this is a 



S6i REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

great abomination in the sight of God ; and 
such are oftentimes shut up in darkness, and 
given over to a reprobate mind, because for 
worldly ends they choose the darkness rather 
than the light, and come to have their portions 
iu it. 

" The third thing is, where men give over 
their consciences to the regulation and govern- 
ment of others. These may be said to be men 
without the exercise of their conscience ; for 
they have not the use of it, nor do stand in a 
capacity of accepting any illuminations by 
the working of God's Spirit ; but are bound 
as slaves and vassals to him, to whom they 
have subjected themselves, and receive their 
precepts by the teaching of that man, though 
he be never so bad. And of this God com- 
plained of old, saying : Their fear towards me 
is taught by the precepts of men. Then it 
seems they should have been taught of God, 
But, alas ! what a condition are those souls in, 
and how uncertainly do they go on, that have 
giyen themselves over to another to govern 
their very thoughts, their faith, their living 
and works ! If he errs, they must err too ; if 
he falls into the ditch, they must fall in top - ? 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 353 

nay, and this it not all, for he himself is not 
his own, nor the Lord's freeman ; but he is bound 
under somebody else, as much as thou art un- 
der him, and he again under another, and so 
on. So that error, darkness, and blindness, 
spread over all ; and all are wandered from 
that Spirit which Christ hath sent, according 
to his promise, to lead his people into Truth, 
whom, He said, the world could not receive ; 
and now it is manifestly true, the world will 
make any shift rather than come to the teach- 
ings of his Spirit; yea, will pin their faith 
upon the sleeve of a priest or a monk, although 
they know them to be so far from infallibility, 
that they see their failings daily, in pride, co- 
vetousness, luxury, wantonness, and hypo- 
crisy, and that these are such as are not able to 
preserve themselves out of the snares of Satan* 

u Who would think tiny man of understand- 
ing could be so blinded, as to imagine that 
such can absolve them of their sin, who can- 
not keep out of it themselves ; but are over- 
come by the temptations of Satan, and by their 
own lusts and concupiscence, -and must have 
^another to absolve them, and another agaimfar 
"diin^-and so, forth. 

£ K-3 



366 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

" All ! where is the pure light of Christ in 
the conscience all this while, that should guide 
and rule the conscience of the one and the 
other, to teach them how to keep their con- 
sciences void of offence towards God and 
man ? O that men would hearken to this, and 
let it have its proper office in their consci- 
ences, unto which God hath appointed it. 
This would nourisl) and strengthen every good 
thing that hath been planted by good educa- 
tion ; and bring that good which is held in 
notion to flourish in virtue. This would work 
out any evil thing that hath been sown by bad 
education ; and make it die and wither. This 
would teach you to lay by all worldly interest, 
and dedicate yourselves to the Lord, hence- 
forth to be taught and guided by Him: and 
Christ Jesus, by his Light and Spirit, would 
so open your understandings, that He would 
make you wiser than your teachers in the 
great mystery of regeneration, without which 
all worships, religions, confessions, absolu- 
tions, yea, alms and prayers, will stand a 
man in no stead : for except a man be bow 
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 

"Now, friends, you that are in sufferings, 
and are scattered to and fro in many nations, 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 367 

upon the account you cannot for conscience 
sake conform to that religion which you be- 
lieve to be idolatrous, what can be a more pro> 
per exercise for your minds, than to examine 
your own souls, to see what it is that hath been, 
your leader and guide in this your refusing to 
conform? Whether it were your education, 
or any worldly interest or dependencies upon 
any, or whether it were some overmuch sway 
and prevalency that any man or men have 
had upon your consciences ; or lastly, whether 
i> hath been the light of the Word and Spirit 
of Christ shining in your hearts, and illumi- 
nating your understanding, to see the error 
^ind idolatry of the nations ; and that, in ten- 
.derness of conscience towards God, and in 
obedience to his grace and Truth, you chose 
rather to forsake your native country, and 
your worldly enjoyments, than to defile your 
consciences, and sin against that light anci 
grace, which the Father of JLights had be- 
stowed upon you. 

" Now those of you that find it thus wifh 
you, what a comfort will it be in all your 
adversities, when you feel the evidence o£ 
; God's witness in your consciences, testifying 
your sufferings to be upon this account ! Ajui. 



S6S REVIEW OF THE W0RK3 

who good will it be for you all to follow tire 
-leadings and guidings of it in all things, and 
Tsee if there be not yet many things remaining in 
'and among you, that are as contrary to that 
light and grace in your hearts, and as burden- 
some to your souls, and that keep you from 
reconciliation with God ! And the more you 
«xercise yourselves in trying and proving 
your words and actions by this light in your 
own souls, the more clearly you will see a neces- 
sity of reforming your ways in the sight of 
"God, and for you not to rest satisfied that you 
have obeyed it in one thing, butto labour and 
travail in the daily cross, till all things that 
stand in opposition to the holy will of God be 
subdued in you ; that so you may not lose the 
Teward of what you have done. For it is not 
faithfulness in one particular will serve our 
turns, but, as Moses said when he prophesied 
-of Christ, It shall come to pass, that that soui 
~which zo ill not hear Him in all things shall 
he cut off. Therefore the way to make peace 
with God, and reconciliation, is, to follow the 
'Lord fully, as did Joshua, that is, to leave off 
and forsake every thing that is evil in your- 
selves, as well as the idolatry that is in others 
■which they would ha^ve brought you to joio. 
miih them- in* 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. SCO 

" Iii the next place, I would put you upon 
a serious consideration, what effect jour pre- 
sent suffering condition hath wrought in you 
towards your sanctification ; for it is the work 
and business of a true Christian soul to be 
bettered by every condition, and most of all 
by sufferings, which are permitted of God, for 
the slaying and crucifying all that in his peo. 
pie which is contrary unto Him; that they 
may be as gold purified in the furnace of tri- 
bulation. Now it will be of great profit to 
you to come to a search in yourselves how this 
work of mortification is carried on, and to en* 
quire whether that vain and airy mind that too 
much prevailed upon you in your own coun- 
try, which led you out to fashions and customs, 
be not yet alive in you; which puts you upon 
such great haste to fashion yourselves to the 
fashions of the nations where you are scat* 
tered, and of conforming to their ways ancl 
manners. 

u O ! my friends, if a true sense of your states 
did remain upon your spirits, how would it 
make you grave and weighty, and bring you 
into sobriety in words and actions ! by which 
the nations where you live might see that it 
was from a sound principle of religion and 



>70 



REVIEW OP THE WORKS 



godliness, that you have denied tbe supersti- 
tion of your own country, and not barely 
for a different form of religion, which makes 
men no better, one form than another ; for you 
may remember that the Apostles and primitive 
Christians had not fellowship with those that 
held the same form with themselves, if they 
denied to be subject to the power of godliness. 
And indeed that is the life of religion, and the 
crown of all sufferings upon the account of 
religion, when the sufferers in the time of their 
sufferings feel in their souls the virtue and 
life of Him for whose Name they suffer, sup- 
porting them in their afflictions, and also pre- 
serving them from the pollutions and defile- 
ments of the world. Thus it was with the dis- 
ciples of old, who in a time of persecution 
were scattered over Asia, Cappadocia, and 
Bithynia. They carried along with them the 
sweet savour of life ; and it is said, that the 
Word of God grew, or increased mightily ; 
for, alas! what advantage hath a Protestant over 
a Papist, if both remain subject to the prince 
of the power of the air, who hath his rule in 
the hearts of the children of disobedience, of 
what sort or profession soever they are. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 37i 

" Therefore let me persuade and beseech 
you, in the tender love of God, not too much 
to look upon that little reformation which you 
have; bat look at, and consider how much is- 
yet to be reformed, before you can come to be,, 
as you know you ought to be, answerable to 
the holy, pure mind of the holy pure God, 
with whom, and in whose eternal pure pre- 
sence, 3-ou desire to have your eternal portion 
and inheritance. And although this be not 
obtained by works, but through grace, yet all 
that are truly subjected to the grace of God, 
are led by it to deny all ungodliness and 
worldly lusts, and to live righteously, and so- 
berly, and godly, in this present evil world. 
Tit. ii. 11. So examine yourselves, and see 
how your lives and conversations answer the 
grace and light of Truth, which, through Christ 
Jesus the Fountain of Light and Truth, is com- 
municated to you ; and accordingly you may 
find a true judgment arise in your own souls, 
how it stands with every one of you in the 
sight of God. 

" There is one thing more that lies upon me 
to put you in mind of, and that is, to move you 
to an humble thankful mind to the Lord, that 
He hath in this the time of your afflictions 



372 IiEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

opened the hearts of so many kings and 
princes to receive and succour you, and of so 
many people to relieve your necessities; which 
indeed is a great mercy. The consideration 
whereof may be a great motive upon your 
spirits to trust the Lord, and to serve Him in 
your places where you are cast, and to en- 
deavour yourselves to answer his love and 
kindness towards you ; that his mercies and 
goodness may oblige your hearts to love the 
Lord more than all; and this will more and 
more open the hearts of all that love the Lord, 
to minisfer to you in such tilings as you need, 
both temporal and spiritual. 

" And truly, friends, I have with grief many 
a time beheld you as a people under great 
trials, and had wished your trials had wrought 
a better effect upon you than they have yet had. 
And there came a necessity upon my spirit to 
Visit you with these few considerations, in the 
pure love of God, hoping they will meet with 
many among you that will receive this visita- 
tion in the same love in which it is sent unto 
you. And I pray God it may do you good, 
and have an effect upon your hearts, for your 
spiritual advantage. Hut if any among you 
should despise it, and cast good counsel be- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 373 

hind their backs, and cavil either at the mat- 
ter or style, such will but hurt their own souls, 
and not me ; neither shall I, that I know of, be 
concerned thereat, but with grief for their 
sakes, having faithfully discharged that which 
lay upon me to you-ward ; and my reward is 
with the Lord ; and his Spirit teacheth me to 
love all men, and to labour for the good of all 
men, as knowing it is not the will of God that 
any should perish, but that all men exery 
where should repent, and come to the know- 
ledge of the Truth, and be saved. 



" Stephen Crisp. 



" Colchester, the 17th 
llth Month, 1688." 



2 i 



374 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

No. 37. K An Epistle of Tender Love and 
Brotherly Advice to all the Churches of Christ, 
throughout the world, $c. 1680. — 23 pages. 

This is the last Epistle of our excellent 
Author, which I find printed. It contains a 
review of the progress of the Society, the in- 
stitution of the Discipline, and the means and 
spirit by which alone it can be advantage- 
ously conducted. It may be considered as a 
farewell address to the Churches, among which 
he had so long laboured ; and, though he notices 
in itthe decay of his bodily powers, it evinces 
the maturity of his intellectual and Christian 
character. He seems already upon the verge 
of that perfect day, which is the summit of the 
good man's hope and experience, 

I present the Epistle uncurtailed to the 
reader. 

" Dearly beloved friends and brethren, ga- 
thered out of the world by the Eternal Arm 
a;id Power of the mighty God, to bear his 
holy Name in your generation ; my love and 
life, in the fellowship of the universal Spirit, 
salutes you all ; and my prayer to God is, that 
you may be kept steadfast and unmovable in 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. S75 

the grace of God, and in the communion of 
his Holy Spirit; that ye may bring forth fruit 
in abundance, according to the abundant mercy 
and grace bestowed upon you, to the glory of 
God, and to your mutual joy, comfort, and 
edification. 

" And that you may so do, let your eye be 
kept daily to the Lord ; and behold, and take 
notice of the wondrous works that He hath 
wrought in you, and for you, since the day ye 
were first quickened by his immortal Word, 
and stirred up to seek after Him, and to wait 
upon Him ; how good and gracious He hath 
been to you, in bringing you from the barren 
mountains, where your souls languished for 
the heavenly nourishment — where you knew 
not the Lord, nor one another, but were with- 
out a comforter, or any to sympathize with 
you in your mournings. O how hath He pitied 
your groan ings, and had compassion on your 
sighings ; and brought you into acquaintance 
with those that were in the like exercises ! and 
then He taught you to believe on Him who 
was able to help you. And those that were 
thus taught of the Father, and felt his drawing 
cords of love prevailing upon them; these came 
to Christ their Saviour, and in Him began to 
2 \2 



376 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

feel a unity one with another, in the faith you 
had received in Him; whereby you believed 
He would give you of his Spirit, to teach and 
guide you in the way of truth, righteousness, 
and peace. 

" And thus was the foundation of your holy 
communion laid ; and a lively hope raised in 
each particular soul, that He that had begun 
this blessed work would carry it on ; and this 
hope made you that ye were not ashamed to 
make a public profession of his Name before 
the world, but cheerfully to take up his cross, 
and deny yourselves of your former pleasures, 
friendships, and delights of this world. This 
hope hath been your support in many sharp 
trials and bitter combats, which you have had 
withthe enemy of your souls' peace within, and 
with the enemies of God's holy way and 
Truth without. And in all your conflicts, 
you have found Him nigh at hand, to put forth 
his power on your behalf, as you have de- 
pended upon Him for his assistance ; and by 
these experiences of his goodness, your faith 
hath been strengthened. And by the same 
Word of Life that quickened you, many more 
have been reached unto, so that you have seen 
a daily addition of strength in the particular, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 377 

and also an addition to your number, to your 
great comfort and encouragement. And many 
Lave come to wait upon the Lord among you ; 
and many are daily enquiring after the way to 
Sion, with their faces thitherward. These things 
are worth your remembrance, and serious con- 
siderations, that you may look upon these 
great mercies, as obligations upon jour souls, 
to walk humbly before the Lord, and to be 
devout and fervent in your testimony for 
that God who hath thus done great things for 
you. 

" And, friends, consider of the great works 
that this mighty arm of the Lord hath brought 
to pass in the general, as well as in the par- 
ticular. How many contrivances have been 
framed, and laws and decrees made, to lay you 
waste, and to make you cease to be a people I 
and how have the wicked rejoiced thereat, for 
a season, crying, i Ah, ha, thus would we have 
it ! they art all now given up to banishments, 
to imprisonments, to spoils and ruins ; now let 
us see if that invisible arm they trust in, can 
deliver them^ O friends ! how hath your God 
been your support in the midst of all these 
exercises ! and when He hath pleased, how 
hath He quieted the sharpest storms, and 
2 i 3 



378 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

turned back the greatest floods and torrents 
of persecution that ever you met! and how 
hath lie confounded his and your enemies, 
and brought confusion upon the heads of them 
that sought your hurt ! Were not these things 
wrought by the power of God ? Did your 
number, your policy, your interest, or any 
thing that might be called your own, contri- 
bute any thing to these your great preserva- 
tions and deliverances? If not, then let God 
have the glory ; and acknowledge to his praise, 
these have been the Lord's doings, and are 
marvellous in our eyes. 

" Again, dear friends, consider how the 
wicked one hath wrought in a mystery among 
yourselves, to scatter you, and to lay you 
waste from being a people, as at this day J 
How many several ways hath he tried, raising 
up men of perverse minds, to subvert, and to 
turn you from the faith, and from the simpli- 
city that is in Christ Jesus our Lord — and to 
separate you from that invisible Power that 
hath been your strength — and to separate you 
one from another ; and, by subtle wiles, to lead 
you into a false liberty above the cross of 
Christ ; and sometimes, by sowing seeds of 
heresy and seditions, endeavouring to corrupt 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 379 

the minds of whom they could, with pernicious 
principles. But O ! how have their designs 
been frustrated, and the authors thereof con- 
founded and brought to nought ! and how 
have you been preserved, as a flock under the 
hand of a careful shepherd, even unto this 
day ; which ministers great cause of thanks- 
giving unto all the faithful, who have witnessed 
the working of this preserving power in their 
own paticular. 

" Also, my friends, it is worth your consi- 
derations, to behold how that, by this invisible 
Power, so many faithful watchmen are raised 
up upon the walls of your Sion, that in most 
of your Meetings, there are men and women 
upon whom God hath laid a concern, to be 
taking care for the good of the whole, and to 
take the oversight upon them, to see all things 
kept in good and decent order, and to make 
due provision for the comforting and reliev- 
ing the necessities of the needy and distressed, 
that nothing be lacking to make your way 
comfortable. And these have not been, nor 
are brought under this charge by any act of 
yours ; but God hath raised up Pastors aud 
Teachers, Elders and Deacons, of his own 
election and choice, and bowed their spirits 



380 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

to take upon them the work and service to 
which they are appointed for the Lord's sake, 
and for the body's sake, which is the Church ; 
to whom it may truly be said, as in the 20th 
chapter of Acts, ver. 28. Take ye heed to the 
Jloch of God, over which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you Overseers, 8?c. And such ought to 
be hearkened to in the discharge of their trust, 
as those that must give an account to Him 
that called them, and gifted them for their 
several works and services in the Church. 

" And by these ways and means hath the 
Lord established among you a heavenly go- 
vernment, and built as it were a hedge about 
you, that ye may be preserved from genera- 
tion to generation, a people fitted for the 
glory that is and shall daily more and more 
be revealed among and upon the faithful, who 
delight in that power that called them to be 
saints, and to bear a profession for the holy 
Name of God, against the many names and 
ways that men, in their changeable minds, have 
set up ; that the Name of the Lord alone may 
be exalted. 

" And, dear friends and brethren, I entreat 
you, that the considerations of these great and 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. S81 

weighty things which God hath wrought for 
you, and among you, may have that deep and 
weighty influence upon your souls, that ye 
may find yourselves engaged to answer the 
love and mercy of God in your lives and con- 
versations, and in all you have to do in this 
world ; that ye may shew forth the honour of 
God in all things — that the light which hath 
sinned in you, may shine forth through you 
unto others, -who yet sit in darkness — that all 
men may know by your innocent and harmless 
conversations, and by your close keeping to 
the Lord, that ye are a people who are assisted 
and helped by a supernatural Power, which 
governs your wills, and subjects them to his 
blessed will ; and that guides and orders your 
affections, and sets them upon heavenly and 
Divine objects; and gives you power to deny 
your own private interests, where they hap- 
pen to stand in competition with the interest 
of Truth. For these, and these only, will be 
found the true disciples of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who can deny themselves, take up a 
cross daily, and follow Him in the guidance 
of his regenerating Power, which brings death 
upon self, and crucifies the old nature, with 
its affections and lusts, and raiseth up a birth 
in you, that hath a holy will and desire to 



OVZ REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

serve the Lord, and do his will on the earth. 
And such as these are instruments in the hand 
of God for Him to work by, and to do works 
of righteousness, of justice, of charity, and all 
the other virtues belonging to a Christian life, 
to the houour of God, and for the comfort and 
benefit of his church and people. 

"And all you, dear friends, upon whom the 
Lord Jiath laid a care for his honour, and for 
the prosperity of the truth, and gathered you 
into the good order of the Gospel, to meet 
together to manage the affairs thereof; take 
heed that you have a single eye to the Lord, 
to do the Lord's business in the leadings of his 
Spirit, which is but one, and brings all that 
are given up to be governed by it, to be of 
one mind and heart, at least, in the general pur- 
port and service of those meetings ; although, 
through the diversity of exercises, and the 
several degrees of growth among the brethren, 
every one may not see or understand alike in 
every matter at the first propounding of it. 
Yet this makes no breach of the unity, nor 
hinders the brotherly kindness, but puts you 
often upon an exercise, and an inward travail- 
ing, to feel the pure, peaceable wisdom that is 
from above, to open among you ; and every 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. SS3 

one's ear is open to it, in whomsoever it speaks ; 
and thereby a sense of life is given in the 
meeting, to which all that are of a simple and 
tender mind, join and agree. 

u But if any among you should be contrary 
minded in the management of some outward 
affair relating to the truth, this doth not pre- 
sently break the unity that ye have in Christ, 
nor should weaken the brotherly love, so long 
as he keeps waiting for an understanding from 
God, to be gathered into the same sense with 
you, and walk with you according to the law 
of charity. Such an one ought to be borne 
with, and cherished, and the supplications of 
your souls will go up to God for him, that 
God may reveal it to him, if it be his will; 
that so no difference may be in understanding, 
so far as is necessary for the good of the 
church, no more than there is in matters of 
faith and obedience to God. 

<; For, my friends, it is not of absolute neces- 
sity that every member of the church should 
have the same measure of understanding in 
all things ; for then where were the duty of 
the strong bearing with the weak ? then, 
where were the brother of low decree? where 



SSi REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

would be any submitting to them that are 
set over others in the Lord? which all tend to 
the preserving of unity in the church, notwith- 
standing the different measures, and different 
growths of the members thereof. For as the 
spirits of the prophets are subject to the pro- 
phets, so are the spirits of all that are kept in 
a true subjection to the Spirit of life in them- 
selves, kept in the same subjection to the sense 
of life given by the same Spirit in the church : 
and by this means we come to know the one 
Master, even Christ, and have no room for 
other masters, in the matter of our obedience 
to God. 

"And while every one keeps in this true 
subjection, the sweet concord is known, and 
the oil is not only upon Aaron's head, but it 
reacheth the skirts of his garment also; and 
things are kept sweet and savoury, and ye love 
one another, from the greatest to the least, in 
sincerity, and, as the apostle saitb, without 
dissimulation ; and this love excludes all whis- 
perings of evil things, all back-biting, tale- 
bearing, grudgings, and murmu rings; and 
keeps friends' minds clean one toward another, 
waiting for every opportunity to do each 
other good, and to preserve each other's repu- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 385 

tation ; and their hearts are comforted at the 
sight of one another. And in all their affairs, 
both 1 elating to the church and to the world, 
they will be watchful over their own spirits, 
and keep in the Lord's power, over that na- 
ture and ground in themselves, that would be 
apt to take an offence, or construe any word 
or action to a worse sense than the simplicity 
thereof, or the intention of the other concerned, 
will allow of. 

"And whereas it may often fall out, that 
among a great many, some may have a differ- 
ent apprehension of a matter from the rest of 
their brethren, especially in outward or tem- 
poral things, there ought to be a Christian 
liberty maintained for such to express their 
sense with freedom of mind, or else they will 
go away burthened; whereas, if they speak 
Iheir minds freely, and a friendly and Christian 
conference be admitted thereupon, they may 
be eased, and oftentimes the different appre^ 
hension of such an one comes to be wholly 
removed, and his understanding opened, to 
see as the rest see. For the danger in society, 
doth not lie so much in that some few may 
have a differing apprehension in some things 
from the general sense; as it doth in this, 
2 K 



383 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

namely, when such as differ, do suffer them- 
selves to be led out of the bond of charity, 
and labour lo impose their private sense upon 
the rest of their brethren, and to be offended 
and angry if it be not received. This is the 
seed of sedition and strife, that hath grown up 
in too, too many, to their own hurt. 

"And therefore, my dear friends, beware 
of it, and seek not to drive a matter on in 
fierceness or in anger, nor to take offence into 
your minds at any time, because what seems 
to be clear to you, is not presently received ; 
but let all things in the church be propounded 
with an awful reverence of Him that is the 
Head and Life of it; who hath said, Where 
tzco or three are met in my Name, I will he in 
the midst of them. And so He is, and may be 
felt by all who keep in his Spirit. But he that 
follows his own spirit, sees nothing as he ought 
to see it. Therefore let all beware of their own 
spirits and natural tempers, as they are some- 
times called; but let all keep in a gracious 
temper. Then are ye fit for the service of 
the house of God, whose house ye are, as ye 
keep upon the foundation that God hath laid ; 
and He will build you up, and teach you how 
to build up one another in Him. And as 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 387 

every member must feel life in themselves, and 
all from one Head, tins life will not hurt itself 
in any, but be tender of the life in all ; for by 
this one life of the Word, ye were begotten, 
and by it ye are nourished and made to grow 
into your several services in the Church of 
God. 

"It is no man's learning, nor artificial ac- 
quirements ; it is no man's riches, nor great- 
ness in this world ; it is no man's eloquence 
and natural wisdom, that makes him fit for 
government in the Church of Christ, unless 
he, with all his endowments, be seasoned with 
the heavenly sail, and his spirit be subjected, 
and his gifts pass through the fire of God's 
altar, a sacrifice to his praise and honour; 
that so self ma}' be crucified and baptized in 
death, and the gifts made use of in the power 
of the resurrection of the Life of Jesus in him. 
And when this great work is wrought in a 
man, then all his gifts and qualifications are 
sanctified ; then they are made use of for the 
good of the body, which is the Church ; and 
they are as ornaments and jewels, which serve 
for the joy and comfort of all who are parta- 
kers of the same Divine fellowship of life, in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. And thus come many 
2 k 2 



388 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



to be fitted and furnished to ffood works, 
which are brought forth in their due seasons, 
for edification, and building up the weak, and 
for repairing the decayed places, and also for 
defence of them that are feeble, that hurtful 
things may not come near them. 

"O friends! great is the work the Lord 
hath called you to, and is fitting you for, ttho 
innocently wait upon Him. And the Lord 
hath opened my heart unto you ; and laid it 
upon me, to exhort and beseech you to have 
a care ye quit yourselves as ye ought, in what 
God requires of you. And for the more par- 
ticular expressing what lies before me in the 
matter, I shall set down a few particular ob- 
servations, for your benefit and advantage. 
And my soul's desire is, that ray labour of love 
may have a good effect in all your bosoms, 
that God may be honoured thereby. And, 
friends, ye know the chief business to which 
ye are all called in your particular men and 
women's meetings, is under these two heads, 
Justice and Charity; the first, to see that 
every one hath right done him, and the other 
to take care there be nothing lacking to the 
comfort of the poor, that are made partakers 
of the same faith with you. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. SS9 

"And when ye meet about these things, 
keep the Lord in your eye, and wait to feel 
his power to guide and direct you, to speak 
and behave yourselves in the church of God, 
as becomes the peaceable Gospel. And be- 
ware of all brittleness of spirit, and sharp 
reflection upon each other's words ; for that 
will kindle up heats, and create a false fire. 
And when one takes a liberty of a sharp word 
spoken out of the true fear and tenderness, it 
oftentimes becomes a temptation to another; 
and if he hath not a great care, it will draw him 
out also, and then the first is guilty of two 
evils ; first,being led into a temptation, and then, 
secondly, he becomes a temptation to others. 

"Therefore all had need to be upon their 
watch, neither to tempt nor to be tempted ; 
and let none think it a sufficient excuse for 
them that they were provoked, for we are as 
answerable to God for evil words spoken 
upon provocation, as without provocation; 
for, for that end hath the Lord revealed bis 
power to us, to keep and preserve us in his 
fear and counsel in the time of our provoca- 
tions. And therefore, if any man, through 
want of watchfulness, should be overtaken 
with beat or passion, a soft answer appcasttk, 
2k3 



390 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

wrath, saith the wise man; and therefore swell 
a time is fittest for a soft answer, lest the 
enemy prevail on any to their hurt, and to the 
grief and trouble of their brethren; for it is 
the proper duty of watchmen and overseers, 
to spare the flock, that is, let nothing come 
nigh them that will hurt them, and wound 
and grieve them. Nay, the good apostle was 
so careful over the flock of believers, that if 
there were any doubtful matters to be disputed 
of, he would not have them that were weak in 
the faith at such disputes, much less ought; 
them that are weak to see those that are strong 
descend from their strength, and go into the 
weakness where they are not able to bear; 
for that is certainly the weak that cannot 
bear. Those that really live in the strength 
and power, they can bear even burdens for 
them that cannot bear their own. 

"The apostle, in the place before mentioned, 
when ho sent for the elders of Ephesus to Mi- 
letus, and left a charge with them, before he 
sard, Take heed to the Jlock of God, he said, 
Take ye heed to yourselves. And indeed we 
are none of us like to discharge ourselves well 
towards others, but by -taking heed to our- 
-selvos, to be kept in that sober, innocent framo 
*€ spirit, wliich the Truth calls for» 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 391 

"In the nest place, ray dear friends, when 
je are called upon in point of justice, to give 
a sentence of right between friend and friend; 
take heed that neither party get possession 
of your spirit aforehand, by any way or means 
"whatsoever, or obtain any word or sentence 
from you in the absence of the other party, 
he not being yet heard. There is nothing 
more comely among men, than impartial judg- 
ment. Judgment is a seat where neither in- 
terest nor affection, nor former kindnesses, 
may come. We may make no difference of 
the worthiness or unworthiness of persons in 
judgment, as we may in charity; but in judg- 
ment, if a good man, being mistaken, hath a 
bad case, or a bad man a good case, accord- 
ing to his case must he have sentence, 

" It was a good saying : He that judgelh 
among men, judgetfi for the Lord, and Hz 
will repay it. Therefore let all be done as 
unto the Lord, and as ye are willing to an* 
swer it in his presence ; and although some 
may for a time be discontent thereat, yet in 
time God shall clear up your innocency as 
the sun at noon-day ; and they that kick at 
sound judgment, will find but hard work of 
it, they do but kick against that which will 
prick them ; and however such, through their 



392 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

wilfulness, and their abounding in iheir own 
sense, may hurt themselves, jet you will be 
preserved, and enjoy your peace and satisfac- 
tion in the discharge of your consciences in 
the sight of God. 

"And as concerning practical charity, ye 
know it is supported by liberality; and where 
liberality ceaseth, charity waxeth cold, yea, 
so far ceaseth. Where there is no contribu- 
tion, there is no distribution; where the one 
is sparing, the other is sparing; and therefore 
let every one nourish charity in the root, that 
is, keep a liberal mind, a heart that looks upon 
the substance that is given him, as really be- 
stowed upon him for the support of charity, 
as for the support of his own body. And 
where people are of this mind, they will have 
a care of keeping back any of God's part; for 
He hath in all ages, in a most singular manner, 
espoused the case of the poor, the widow, 
and fatherless; and hath often signified by his 
prophets and ministers, a special charge upon 
rich men that had this world's goods, that 
they should look to it that they were faithful 
stewards of what they possessed, and that they 
might be found in good works, and might not 
surfer their hearts so to cleave to uncertain 
riches^ as to neglect the service God had givea 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 39% 

them the things of this life for ; either to give 
them up when called for, in a testimony fur 
his worthy Name, or to communicate of them 
to those that were in necessity. 

" Now as concerning the necessities of the 
poor, there is great need of wisdom when ye 
meet together about that affair; for, as I said 
before, though the worthiness or unworthiness 
of persons is not to be considered in judgment, 
yet in this it is. And you will find some that 
God hath made poor ; and some that have 
made themselves poor; and some that others 
have made poor ; which must all have 
their several considerations, in which you 
ought to labour to be unanimous, and not one 
to be taken up with an affection to one person 
more than another, but everyone to love every 
one in the universal Spirit, and then to deal 
out that love in the outward manifestations 
thereof, according to the measure that the 
Lord in his wisdom working in you, shall mea- 
sure forth to them. 

" And as to those who, by sickness, lameness, 
age, or other impotency, are brought into po- 
verty by the hand of Providence, these are 
your peculiar care and objects pointed out to 
you, to bestow your charity upon ; for by 



394 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

them the Lord calls for it ; for as the earth is 
the Lord's and the fulness of it, He hath by 
his sovereign power commanded in every Dis- 
pensation, that a part of what we enjoy from 
Him, should be thus employed. The Israelites 
were not to reap the corners of their fields, nor 
to gather the gleanings of the corn or vintage, 
it was for the poor. And in the time of the 
Gospel, they were to lay apart on the first day 
of the week, a part of what God had blessed 
them with, for the relief of those that were in 
necessity ; nay, they did not confine themselves 
in their charity to their own Meetings, but 
had an universal eye through the whole church 
of Christ ; and, upon extraordinary occasions, 
sent their benevolence to relieve the Saints at 
Jerusalem in a time of need. 

" And all that keep in the guidance of the 
same universal Spirit, will make it their busi- 
ness to be found in the same practice of cha- 
rity and good works. To do good, and to 
communicate, forget not, saith the apostle. 
So they that forget not this Christian duty, 
will find out the poor's part in the corners and 
gleanings of the profits of their trades and 
merchandizes, as well as the old Israelite did in 
the cornel's and gleanings of his field ; and in 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 395 

the distribution of it, will have regard to com- 
fort the bowels of those who are, by the Divine 
providence of God, put out of a capacity of 
enjoying those outward comforts of health, 
and strength, and plenty, which others do en- 
joy. For, while they are partakers of the same 
faith, and walk in the way of righteousness 
with you, submitting themselves patiently to 
the dispensations of God's providence towards 
them, they are of your household, and under 
your care, both to visit and to relieve, as mem- 
bers of one body, of which Christ Jesus is 
Head ; and he thatgiveth to such poor, lendeth 
to the Lord, and He will repay it. 

" But there is another sort of poor, who 
make themselves poor through their sloth and 
carelessnes, and sometimes by their wilfulness ;• 
being heady and high-minded, and taking 
things in hand that are more than they can 
manage, and make a flourish for a season, and 
then, through their own neglects, are plunged 
down into great poverty. These are a sort 
the primitive churches began to be troubled 
withal in the early days of the Gospel ; for 
the apostle took notice of some that would not 
work at all, and sharply reproved them, and 
said, They that would not work, should not 



596 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

eat. And these are commonly a sort of busy- 
l>odies,and meddlers with others' matters, while 
they neglect their own, and run into a worse 
way than the unbelievers ; while they profess 
to be believers, yet do not take a due care for 
those of their own household. 

u The charity that is proper to such, is to 
ijive them admonition and reproof, and to con- 
vince them of their sloth and negligence; and if 
they submit to your reproof, and are willing to 
amend, then care ought to be taken to help 
them into a way and means to support them- 
selves. And sometimes, by a little help in this 
kind, some have been reclaimed from the 
snares of their souls' enemy. But if they will 
not receive your wholesome counsel and ad- 
monitions, but kick against it, either in their 
words or actions, friends will be clear of such 
in the sight of God ; for it is unreasonable in 
them to expect you should feed them that will 
not be advised by you, because they break 
the obligation of Society, by their disorderly 
walking ; for our communion doth not stand 
only in frequenting Meetings, and hearing 
Truth preached ; but in answering the blessed 
principle of Truth, in life and conversation, 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 397 

and therein both the rich and the poor hive 
fellowship one with another. 

*' There is another sort that are made poor 
by the oppressions and cruelties of others. 
These oppressed poor, cry aloud in the ears 
of the Almighty; and He ^vill in his own time 
avenge their cause. But, in the mean time, 
there is a tenderness to be extended to theirij 
not knowing how soon it may be our turn; 
and if there be need of counsel and advice, 
or if any applications can be made to any 
that are able to deliver them from the oppres- 
sors ; in such cases, let all that are capable, be 
ready and willing to advise, relieve, and help 
the distressed. And this is an acceptable work 
of charity ; and a great comfort to such in 
sharp afflictions ; and their souls will bless the 
instruments of their ease and comfort. 

" And, my dear friends, as God hath ho- 
noured you with so high and holy a calling, to 
be his servants and workmen in this his great 
and notable day, and to work together in his 
power, in setting forth his praise and glory in 
the earth, and gathering together in one the 
scattered Seed in this and other nations ; O ! 
let the dignity of your calling, provoke and 
2 L 



3f8 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

encourage you to be diligent attenders upon 
his work and service you are called to; and let 
not your concern in the world, draw you from 
observing the times and seasons appointed to 
meet together. But you that are elder, set a 
good example to the younger sort, by a due 
observation of the hour appointed, that they 
that come first one time, may not by their 
ljng staying for others be discouraged, so as 
perhaps they may be last another time. But 
when the time is come, leave your business 
for the Lord's work ; and lie will take care 
your business shall not suffer, but will add a 
blessing upon it, which will do more for you, 
than the time can do that may be saved out of 
his service. 

" And when ye have to do with perverse, 
and froward, or disorderly persons, whom ye 
have occasion to reprove and to rebuke for the 
Truth's sake, and you find them stout, and 
high, and reflecting upon you, then is a time 
for the Lamb's meekness to shine forth, and 
for you to feel your authority in the Name of 
Christ to deal with such an one 5 and to wait for 
■the pure and peaceable wisdom from above, 
to bring- down and confound the earthly wis- 
dom. And in this frame of mind you labour 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. JSV 

together, to pull the entangled sheep out of 
the thicket, and to restore t h at w Inch is gone 
astray, to the fold again, if you can ; but if 
you cannot, yet ye save yourselves from the 
guilt of his blood ; and if such do perish, his 
blood will be on his own head. But, on the 
other hand, if ye suffer their perverse spirits to 
enter, and their provocations to have a place in 
you, so as to kindle your spirits into a heat 
and passion, then you get a hurt, and are in- 
capable to do them any good ; but words will 
break out that ay ill need repentance, and the 
■wicked will be stiffened and strengthened 
thereby, and you miss the service that you did 
really intend. 

" Therefore, dearly beloved, keep upon 
your watch ; keep on your spiritual armour ; 
keep your feet shod with the preparation of 
the Gospel of peace, and the God of peace be 
with you, and crown your endeavours with 
good success, to your joy and comfort ; and 
will bring up Lis power over your adversaries 
and opposcrs more and more, to which many 
shall bow and bend in your sight ; and will 
bring shame and confusion upontherebellious, 
who harden their hearts and stiffen their necks 
against the Lord, and his Christ, and king- 
2l2 



400 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

dom; which He will exalt in the earth, not- 
withstanding all that Satan and all his evil in- 
struments can do to hinder the growth and pro- 
gress of his blessed Truth ; for of the increase 
of the government and of the peace of tho 
kingdom of Christ, there shall be no end. 

"And, now friends, having cleared my con- 
science of what lay upon me for some time, to 
write unto you by way of remembrance, and 
as the exhortation of my life unto you, I re- 
main travailing in spirit for the welfare of 
Zion. And although the outward man decays ; 
yet in the inward man I am comforted in be- 
holding daily the great things that our God 
hath done, and is still doing, for them that 
have their sole dependence upon Him. So I 
commit you to the grace of God, for your 
director and preserver in these and all your 
several services unto which God hath called 
you ; that, by the operations of his mighty 
power, ye may be kept blameless and un- 
spotted of the world, to his honour, and your 
comfort, and to the universal comfort and 
edification of the Church ; that so praises and 
thanksgiving may fill your hearts and mouths, 
your families and your meetings ; for He is 
worthy, who is our Tower, our Support, the 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 401 

Lord of Hosts, tlic King of Saints, to whom be 
glory, honour, and renown, through this and 
all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. 

" From your friend and brother in the com- 
munioti and fel lotus hip, in the Gospel of 
peace and purity ', 



" Stephen Crisp." 



London, the Ibth of 
the 1th Month, 1690. 



2l 3 



402 ItEVIEW OF THE WOIIKS 

Besides (be printed Works of Stephen Crisp 
now enumerated, and which have been given in 
the order in which theyare arranged inthevo- 
lume of his Works published soon after his 
decease, there is a very lively Memoir of 
James Parnel, prefixed to the works of that 
extraordinary young man, and of which mj 
Father availed himself, and made extracts 
from it, in his Biographical Notice of James 
Parnel. 

Stephen Crisp was also the Author of a little 
work somewhat in the style of Bunyan's Pil- 
grim's Progress, entitled, " A Short History of a 
Long Travel from Babylon to Bethel ;" the ori- 
ginal of which, in his own Land writing, is still 
extant in the collection of Colchester Meeting. 
And it appears from the Testimony of the Year- 
ly Meeting of Amsterdam, respecting S. Crisp, 
that he published two letters relative to the 
persecution in East Friesland, which are not 
collected in his Works. 

J. Whiting notices these two Letters, under 
the title of, "The Outcry against the Persecu* 
lion in Frizeland, in two parts:" He also men- 
tions "A new Book for Children to learn in, or 
Little Primer, 24mo." written by " Stephen 
Crisp and others." 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 403 



The following Sermon is slated to have been 
Preached by Stephen Crisp, at Devonshire House 
Meeting- House, on the 11th of 3rd Month, 1688. 
(0. S.) See Introduction, p. xxxvi. 

THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT. 

WHEN God gave forth his law on Mount 
Sinai, which Israel was to hear and to obey, 
the first and great commandment was : Thou 
shall have no other gods before Me. Here is 
the sum and substance of ail true religion 
that ever was upon the earth to this day ; all 
the commandments, all the precepts, pro-, 
phecies, and all the dealings of God with his 
people from that day to this, have been all 
contained in this short precept : Thou shalt 
have no other gods before Me. 

And as long as Israel stood in obedience to 
this commano, their blessings were multiplied 
upon them, their good things were increased 
from day to day. The Lord was with them 
as long as they were willing to be his people. 
He appeared as their God, and as their De- 
fender; wrought their deliverances, fought 



404 REVIEW OF THE W0RE9 

all their batiks for them, gave them domi- 
nion and strength, courage and wisdom ; 
ministered out of his treasury all good tilings 
unto them; for the great care of God Al- 
mighty was with all his people. He had 
regard to them, and visited them at all times, 
to keep thorn from idolatry : 1 am, saith He, 
a jealous God ; take notice of Me to be so; 
I am jealous of my Name ; if thou wilt be 
mine, Thou shall have no gods but Me. 

And all the precepts about offerings and 
sacrifices, ami making atonement for sinners, 
and the divers services and worship, the va- 
rious offices iu the temple and sanctuary, they 
were all outward means appointed of God, to 
keep this outward church iu an inward con- 
formity to the command of God. This com- 
mand was written on tabies oi"sto\e, and these 
tables were laid up in the Ark of God, and 
all this pertained to the First Covenant, and 
typed aiei figured out the Dispensation of 
the New and Eve lasting Covenant, that God 
would make with his people, not like unto 
the old: How not like it? Not like it in the 
outward shadows, the types and shadows of 
things ; but He.would bring forth the substance 
of ail those shadows and types, and would 



OF STEPHEN CHISP. 405 

alter the form and outward appearance of 
things : For, as God is unchangeable } so is 
his law unchangeable. 

Moses saith, the first and great command- 
ment is : Thou shall have no other gods before 
Me. This was put into the stone tables. 
Christ Jesus saith : The first and great com- 
mandment is, Thou shall love the Lord thy 
God with all thy soul, and zcilh all thy mind. 
(Matt. xxii. 27.) This is put into the tables of 
the heart. So here is a difference bctweenthe 
first commandment by Moses, and the first 
commandment by Christ; they both acknow- 
ledge the first and great comma;. d to be the 
subjecting of the creature to Him that made 
him, as his God, that he may serve only the 
Creator, and may love Him with his whole 
heart. The Jew could prove this by his stone 
tables, and Christ proves this by the fleshly 
tables of the heart ; for there the creature is 
bound to love the Lord with his whole heart> 
and to serve Him only: Him only shall thou 
serve. 

Nov/ here the Jews' law is brought over to 
the Christians*, in the greatest point of religion 
that ever was preached; shuts out all idolatry, 



406 KEVIEW OF THE WORKS 

all supersiliion, all variety of religions, all is 
shut out by (bis commandment; ami the 
Christian thai hath thelaw written in his heart, 
according to the New Covenant, he can go as 
readily to it and read it, as ever the Jew could 
go to his stone tulle, and read the law there ; 
you cannot deny that if there be a thing writ- 
ten and engraven in my heart, I can go as 
readily to it as I can go to any book or table, 
though I have the keeping of it : but the Jews 
had not the keeping of the law ; for generally 
it was laid up in the Ark of God. 

Now friends, that which lies upon my mind 
to speak to you at this time, and that out of 
the great love that I have to all your precious 
and immortal souls, as God hath had love to 
mine, is, that you would all consider and weigh 
in the fear of the Lord, whose presence is 
among us, v hich of you, and how many of 
you, are come to the obedience of this com- 
mandment ! I do not doubt that the most of you 
can say all the Commandments y but a happy 
people are you if you can do one, I dare pro- 
nounce that soul, a blessed soul, that can per- 
form this one commandment, that can or dare 
stand befo re his I Faker and say : O Lord! I 
love Thee with all my heart \ with all my soul. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 407 

and with all my might; my love is withdrawn 
from all other things in comparison of Thee; 
there is nothing in this whole world hath a 
place in rn j mind, but it is in subjection to the 
love of Thee. 

Here is the first and great commandment ? 
the unchangeable law, the law that was good 
in Moses's days, and good in Christ's days, 
and it holds good in our days ; and indeed it 
is such a definitive law, that the breakers of 
it can neither be good Jews, nor good Chris- 
tians. There is an absolute necessity lies 
upon us, of abstracting and drawing away our 
minds and souls from all other gods, from all 
images, and other dependencies and trusts, that 
people are naturally liable to trust to ; and to 
have their whole confidence set upon the 
Lord : but alas ! with grief of heast I speak it, 
there are but very few that as yet have known 
the right giving forth of the law ; and there 
are fewer that are subject unto it. This law 
was not given forth at first without thunder 
and lightning, and a terrible noise, and the 
mountain smoking, (he that hath an ear to 
hear, let him hear.) insomuch as Moses himself 
said, he feared greatly, and he quaked exceed- 
ingly, because of the thunder of the Almighty, 



408 JIEVIEW OF THE WOllKS 

and of the mountain that smoked and burned 
with live, so that Israel could not draw nigh. 

Now I say, there are but a few that have 
come to the knowledge of the giving forth of 
this law, that have certainly known those 
thunders, and that terrible work that the Lord 
of the whole earth makes, when he comes to 
setup his law; for a great many that have 
come mail to it, and might have heard and re- 
ceived the words of the law of God, they have 
gone backward ; they have done like unto the 
Jews of old ; though they had suffered much, 
and gor.o through much, and had seen the 
wonders of the Lord, how he had led them 
and delivered them, yet when it came to this, 
that they must hear the voice of God, they 
said : We cannot bear it ; we cannot endure it ; 
we have devised for ourselves an easier way: 
for the voice of thunder and dreadful noises 
put them into terror, and quaking ; and trem- 
bling, and great dread came upon them. But 
we have found an easier way, say they. What 
is that easier way ? Go thou, said they to 
Moses, and hear thou what the Lordsaiih, and 
come thou and tell us ; thou shall he a mediator 
between us ; let God speak unto thee, and do 
thou speak the same to us^andwe will hear thee. 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 409 

Tims the Jews that were not come beyond 
the law of God written on tables of stone, they 
would not come (o receive it in their hearts, 
as the Christian must; so Moses received the 
lazs) from the mouth of God; and he was faith- 
ful as a servant in the house of God ; and he 
ministered forth the law of God, his precepts, 
statutes and judgments, and testimonies; and 
he made the Jews a book of laws for all of them 
to walk by, from the highest to the lowest ; 
showing how they should act in criminal mat- 
ters, and do justice between man and man; 
and what they should do in the worship of 
God ; and what they should do towards the 
priest, whose lips should preserve knowledge 
for them ; and so he brought up a form of re- 
ligion, but his work was according to the 
precepts of God ; and he brought them into 
the form of national religion, and government, 
and national laws. And so Moses and the 
priests ruled over them, and the priest offered 
sacrifice for them, and made atonement for 
them; and Moses enquired of the Lord, and 
asked counsel for them, and taught and in- 
structed them; and what became of all this at 
last ? When this was done, the priest made 
atonement for sin, but he could not pluck away 
the guilt of one sin : There remained the 
2 M 



410 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

conscience of sin, after he had made his offer- 
ing". And Moses taught them the counsels of 
God, and the commands of God, but be could 
not bind their hearts to the obedience of them; 
for he declared openly against them, that they 
were a rebellions and stiff-necked people, 
notwithstanding they had a law without them. 

Indeed time would fail me to run through, 
the manifold miscarriages of the church of 
the Jezvs, in respect of their idolatry, in re- 
spect of their contempt and rebellion, both to 
God and his servant Moses, who was to teach 
and to guide them : I say, the time would fail 
me to mention the manifold miscarriages that 
happened among this people, who had a law 
rmd religion without them, and a teacher 
without them. 

Now, in the fulness of time, it pleased God, 
in sending his Son Christ Jesus, to raise up a 
Prophet like unto Moses, in respect of faith- 
fulness, though higher in respect of dignity; 
for Moses was fait lift/ 1 in all his house as a 
servant, but this man was faithful as a Son in 
his own house ; in the house that He was heir 
to : that house wherein He was a King, a Priest, 
a Prophet, and a Ruler. When the Lord sig- 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 



ii 



nified, by the spirit of prophecy, the coming 
of the Just One, he signified to the people 
that his ministry should not be as that of Aaron; 
the people should not have their religion 
without them, and their laws and precepts 
witiiout them, and their priests without them, 
and their worship and church .without them ; 
but that they should have it all within them: 
/ will write my law in their hearts, I will 
put it into their inward parts ; then they shall 
be my people, and I will he their God, and they 
shall not forsake me. 

Your fathers broke my old covenant, but I 
will make a new covenant in the latter days ; 
a new covenant, not like that your fathers 
broke : they brake the law without them ; hut 
I will write my law in their hearts. This Pro- 
phet who is like to Moses, He shall teach my 
people, He shall be a leader to them, and guide 
them in the way they are to go, and shall be a 
Captain for them, to lead them to salvation ; 
and it shall come to pass, in the day that I do 
this, if there be any (hat will not hear Him, 
he shall be cut off from among the people. 
That is the judgment which comes upon the 
contemners of the Gospel, upon them that will 
not hear Christ Jesus; they shall be cut off from 
2 m 2 



412 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

the people. From what people ? from the 
people of God ; they shall have no part of the 
privileges that are enjoyed through Christ ; 
they shall be cut off from the benefits that 
others reap by their faith in Christ. 

So that now we are to expect the operation 
and working of a ministry, that leads people 
to an inward religion, a heart-religion ; where 
the heart is fixed entirely upon the true and 
living God, as the object of their dependance 
and trust, and they have no other. This is a 
strange word to flesh and blood. What ! no 
other dependance but on the invisible God ? 
Flesh and blood, and sensuality, can never come 
to this : this is a religion that hath been hid 
from ages and generations, and will be hid from 
all ages that ever shall be in the world, where 
sensuality prevails. What! will you have me 
to place my whole dependance for the comfort 
of my life here, and of the life that is to come, 
the other life — to have my dependance upon 
an Invisible God — that Invisible Power that 
made me, and created the world? How is it 
possible for me to sequester myself, and draw 
myself off from all visible objects ? I must 
trust to this, and trust to that. Flesh and 
blood can never attain to this, with all the wit 



OF STEPHEN CRISP, 413* 

and reason it hath ; it can never separate it- 
self from idols : they are little children, they 
are children of another birth, born of another 
seed, that keep themselves from idols. 

Friends, idolatry is a great deal more com- 
mon, I find, than most are aware of. Am I 
commanded to love the Lordwitk all my heart, 
and soul, and mind, and might? What is left 
when the whole is taken away ? If God hath 
my whole heart, what have I to bestow upon 
the world? What love, what affection, what 
eagerness, what fervency can I bestow upon 
the world, or any object in the world, when 
my whole heart, and soul, and mind, is gone 
before, is <rone toward the Lord ? 



and the second is like unto it, that is : Thou 
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Here 
it is that the law and the prophets, faith, creeds, 
prayer, religion, and worship, all that ever 
was in the world, all are comprehended hi 
this : Thou shalt love the Lard thy God with 
all thy heart, soul, and strength, mid thy neigh- 
bour as thyself. So what need is there for us; 
to be disputing about religion, about this tenet r 
and the other tenet; this text, and' the otlies 
2e3 



414 RI.Y1I.W 07' THE WORKS 

text? For my part, I should only desire for 
you to understand this iext, and I should not 
doubt your going to heaven. Here is the sum, 
here is all at once, here is the quintessence 
of all religion, of all types, shadows, figures, 
ceremonies, and priesthood, and all that ever 
was or could be named and practised in the 
world ; all is brought to this : The heart given 
up to God — our love set upon Him. 

What! is this. sufficient ? Avillsome say; tins 
■will make you a good moral man ; but what is 
this to the Christian religion ? You may be led 
into error, and become a heretic for all this. 

How can this be, that I should not be of a 
sound faith, but led into error and heresy for 
ail this? When people let in error, and heresy, 
and unsoundne ss of faith, where do they let 
it in ? Do they not let in the principles of 
error and heresy into their hearts ? I believe 
this, and that, and the other error ; it comes 
into the heart, and hath a seat in the heart. 
But how can we let it into the heart, when 
the heart is given up to God f Cannot I keep 
out error and heresy, if I give up my heart 
and soul to Him? Cannot i trust Him with all? 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 415 

This kind of talk of error and heresy, hath 
come among men that have had the keeping 
of their own souls ; they have taken their own 
souls into their own hands, and have ordered 
their religion themselves, or have employed 
somebody to order it for them ; and a great many 
of them have met together to make creeds, 
and catechisms, and confessions, and ortho- 
dox doctrines, that might certainly be pro- 
fessed and subscribed to. So afterwards some 
have come and found fault with them; and 
then they must have a Council to try them ; 
then these go oft" and are laid aside, and others 
are given in the room of them ; so that these 
men have set up for themselves. These would 
not be under the government and prescription 
of God, as children under the government of 
a father, but they will set up religions them- 
selves, and say to the rest of the world : If yoa 
own any thing contrary to our principles, yok 
are a heretic, and being a heretic you are to 
be rooted out and cut oft'. Do not you read 
in the Scripture, that whoever hears not the 
Prophet that was to come into the 'world shall 
he cut off ? What ! will not you hear Christ 
speak in the church ? Will not you hear 
Christ speak I The church cannot speak with* 



416 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

out a head ; if you will not hear the Church, 
you shall be cut off. 

All their barbarous and inhuman cruelties, 
martyring and dungeoning people, come from 
their making faiths themselves; and of all 
things nothing is more desperately v.icked, 
and they did not know it. The heart is de- 
ceit fid above all things, and desperately 
wicked : icho can know it ? Men know not how 
proud and arrogant they themselves are, and 
yet they would be ordering the hearts, and 
minds, and consciences of others; and out of 
this hath sprung all superstition and idolatry, 
because men wonld not give up their hearts 
to God : TI.ou shall hare no other gods 
but J\Je. This commandment is great in it- 
self, strict in the terms: Thou shalt love the 
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy 
neighbour as thyself. Their neighbours could 
not see with their eyes ; therefore they would. 
be destroying one another,, 

But, blessed be God, who is now bringing" 
forth true Christianity, upon its old basis and 
foundation, whereon it was placed at first; for 
Christianity hath been jostled oiF from its first 
foundation - for, instead of loving God with; 






OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



417 



all their hearts, and loving their neighbours 
as themselves, they hated them : now this is 
the day, O friends ! the weight of it is great, 
this, I say, is the day wherein God is bringing 
Christianity upon its old foundation. 

I would not have you think that I am here 
judging our forefathers, that are fallen asleep, 
that therefore they are gone to perdition, be- 
cause they saw not this day, and lived not to 
see that benefit of it m hick we enjoy. I am far 
from it. This was the thing that they believed 
and prayed to God for ; they did not see this 
day outwardly, but they saw it by faitfr. 
When I was a child, I remember the people 
of God, when they met three or four together, 
they would rejoice in the hopes of what they 
foresaw; they gave thanks to God for the 
blessed days that He would bring forth, though 
tkey could not tell when. They did say and 
believe, that God would scatter the fogs and 
mists, and bring fortk a happy day, wherein 
his people should have the gift of his Spirit; 
when they saw the impositions and persecu- 
tions of those times, when they that did not 
conform and comply, were cast into prisons, 
dungeons, and gaols: Well, it will not alwavs 
be thus, said they ; there is a day coming where- 



418 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



in the Lord will set his people free from all the 
jokes of oppression, and from the oppressor. 

Indeed my soul did rejoice in hearing the 
prophetical sayings of those good men ; and I 
thought I might live to see that day. Blessed 
be God, that hath preserved my life to this 
day, and to this hour, to enjoy what they 
prayed for ! They prayed to God to scatter 
the mists and fogs, that they might no longer 
cloud and darken men's minds, and hinder 
them from enjoying God's teaching. Blessed 
be God ! that wc are now in the enjoyment of 
the prayers of the faithful, that left the world 
before we were in it. Now the day is come 
that they prayed for, and enquired after. 

How strangely d'oththe man talk, will some 
say, concerning the Christian religion ! The 
Christian religion is all England over ; go to 
any meeting in London, except one, and they 
will tell you they are Christians. I would to 
God they were ; that is the worst I wish for 
them all. But wiry should we talk of the 
Christian religion, without the Christian life ? 
Except we find that amongst them, what sig- 
nifies the name and profession of it ? And the 
Christian doctrine is wanting in many places 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 419 

ioo. There are many in this city urging this 
very command, of loving God with all their 
hearts, and their neighbours as themselves, as 
fervently as I can do, or any body else ; and 
yet they will tell you, in the next breath, that 
no man in London, or in the world, can do 
this ; no man can possibly love God with all 
his heart; never a man can be found that can 
perform such an act, as to love his neighbour 
as himself. Not every neighbour, but some 
one choice associate he may pick out, that he 
can love, and bear with his infirmities and 
affronts, and lore him as himself. Lore thy 
neighbour, that is, every body, that there may 
be a good-will for all people throughout the 
whole race of mankind : Peace on earthy 
good-will towards men: this is the fruit of 
the Gospel. Christian words will not make 
the Christian religion, there must be a Chris- 
tian life ; but where shall we find that, or 
seek it ? 

I know not, I have nothing to do to judge 
any body, but there is One that judgeth who 
it is that liveth the Christian life, and who 
doth not? Who is this? I answer, The 
Head of the Christian Church. Why, is 
JJ* here ? Yes,tbe Head of the Christian Church 



420 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

is here, and He speaks and gives sentence; if 
you have an ear you may hear Him, if you will 
turn your mind inward, for He is an inward 
minister ; every one of yon, if you will turn 
your minds inward, He will tell you whether 
you live a Christian life, and what kind of a life 
it is you live: if there be a drunkard here, let 
him ask whether his life be a Christian life ; 
will a man go away ignorant; from this pface, 
and have no answer? If there be a drunkard 
here, let him ask inwardly in his own bosom : 
Lord ! is my life a Christian life ? I dare affirm 
on God's behalf he will have an answer : No ! 
my life is not a Christian life, but a shameful, 
beastly life, a brutish one. 

Who told you that the Head of Christians, 
Christ Jesus, is present ? — Christ Jesus, is He 
present? — How came He here? He ascended 
up into heaven such a day, say they, how 
came He here? Let Him be ascended up into 
heaven, yet He is not so ascended into heaven 
as not to be here also. How should He fulfil 
his promise, if He be circumscribed in heaven 
or earth ? How should He make good his pro- 
mise, if, when two or three are met together 
in his Name,, He is not in the midst of them? 
Here are now many more than two or three 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 421 

met together in the Name of Christ, and that 
hope for acceptance with God, through the 
Mediator. Christ Jesus: if you think that there 
are two or three met together in this place in 
the name of Christ, it follows that Christ is in 
the midst of them. 

I know not wbat^ow may enjoy, some may 
possibly say, 1 do not find any such presence 
of Christ : I hear of the presence of Christ in 
the Sacrament, and I have heard talk of the 
presence of Christ at a meeting; but I have 
been at many a meeting, and I never found 
such a presence of Christ. 

Can you read the Scriptures ? Yes, I can 
read the Scriptures as well as you, but that 
cannot give me a sense of it ; I do read the 
Scriptures and believe it ; but what signifies 
my reading the Scriptures concerning the pre- 
sence of Christ, if I have not a sense of it r 
I have been at many a meeting, but never had 
the sense of such a Divine presence as you talk 
of — nor it may be at the Sacrament neither. 
What is the reason thou hast no sense of it: 
If thou wilt take my counsel, and turn thy 
mind inward, and enquire whether the thing 
I speak of be truej whether there be suds a 
2jj 



422 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

voice as I speak of, (hat will tell thee what 
thy state is; if thou wilt be true to thyself, 
ihou ma vest know the Divine presence, and 
thou mayest hear Christ speak. 

The sonl hath got eyes, and ears, as well 
as the body. What eyes doth the Apostle 
mean when he saith : The god of this world 
hath blinded the eyes of them thai believe not, 
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 
-.. ho is the image of God, should shine unto 
ihem? If the soul hath eyes and ears, as 
well as the body, it can hear and sec like the 
body: as <hc bodily eye can see visible things^ 
so the eye of the soul can see things that are 
invisible, and heavenly. You can hear my 
voice outwardly, and you may hear the voice 
of Christ inwardly. I have known some that 
have been so afraid of hearing ill of them- 
selves, that they would not enquire ; some 
have been so guilty in their own consciences, 
that they have been afraid of hearing ill, that 
they would not enquire about themselves. So 
it is inwardly ; some have been so conscious 
that their life and conversation is not what it 
ought to be — lhat their life isa sinful life, that 
they dare not bring it to the question. It 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 423 

•would certainly have been told them : Thy life 
is not a Christian life, thou must mend thy 
life, before ever thou comest lo have peace 
with God. If this should be thy portion and 
mine, that upon search we should find our con- 
dition bad, what harm is it? 

I would put one question to thee, be serious 
in considering of it : — We are all children of 
wrath by nature, none of us differ about that, 
and that unless we be born again, we can~ 
not enter into the kingdom of God. The 
question is, whether I am one of those or not ? 
Suppose upon enquiry it be discovered to me 
that I am not, that is bad enough ; this is 
hard, but not so hard as it is true: this is the 
thing which I would have you consider: — Am 
not I in a better case to know that I am in a 
natural slate, than to go on and perish to 
eternity ? As long as there is life, there is hope ; 
as long as a man is upon the earth, and taking 
care for his soul, and enquiring about the 
state of his immortal soul, if his soul is not in 
a good condition, is it not better for him to 
know it, and to seek for a cure ? For no 
greater infirmity and infelicity can is upon 
man, than to have some occult and hidden 
2n2 



424 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

disease, that lie cannot be made sensible of; 
for this wastes and spoils him, and he cannot 
be persuaded to look out for a remedy : so it 
is inwardly, if a man be ignorant of his con- 
dition, and go on to his dying day and hour 
and does not seek after a remedy, this man 
perisheth wilhout all peradventnre. 

When you are in this enquiry, be content 
to be controlled; be willing to have the truth 
spoken, though it be against yourselves. I 
might instance in divers things what I have 
spoken of. If a man be satisfied that his life 
is not a Christian life; I say, if the swearer 
or liar, if the proud peison, or the effeminate, 
as soon as they come to be satisfied that their 
life is not a Christian life, that they now live, 
what can this man expect ? What counsel 
should we give him, and what coumel should 
he take ? I will go on in the way that I am in. 
What! after thou knowest thy life is not a 
Christian life? God forbid: wilt thou go on 
and perpetrate sin upon sin, and heap up 
wrath against the day of wrath ? I am a sinner, 
my life is unchristian, I make account to live 
in sin, and die in sin. Is this good policy l 
Consider another text which our Lord spake; 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 425 

If ye die in yodr sins, zchither 1 go, ye can- 
not come. 

. O Friends ! lay these things to your hearts. 
What have I to do but to tell you that the 
love I have in my soul for you all, makes me 
desire in my heart that you may be saved I 
This is the will of God, that you might all be 
saved, and come to the knowledge of the Truth. 
Blessed are they that know the Truth, the 
Truth as it in Jesus. Truth in the inward 
parts, hath a speaking voice; and if thou 
hearken to it, it will tell thee thy stale is not 
what it ought to be. Canst thou believe the 
Truth when he tells thee so,thatthy state is bad, 
and that thou art like to go to eternal destruc- 
tion, unless there be repentance and regenera- 
tion to prevent it ? Canst thou believethis doc- 
trine, when it sounds in thy own heart ? If thou 
canst not believe it, unbelief will be thy ruin,. 

The Spirit of Truth is come to convince 
the. world of sin, because ihey believe not in 
Christ; He tells them their condition, and 
they will not believe Him. The Spirit of 
Christ convinceth men of sin, and they believe 
Him not. The Spirit of Truth convinceth- 
thee of thy sin, but thou believest Him not.. 
2n3 



426 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

Thou lovest thy pleasure and thy profit, and 
thine honour ; then thou lovest not God with 
all thine heart, and then thou art not a Chris- 
tian, but out of covenant with God. Art thou 
sensible that thy condition is bad ; were it not 
best to get it mended ? After we are convinced 
of our own sinful state, is it not our best course 
to seek to have it mended ? Who shall mend 
it ? saith one — I have done all I can to mend 
my life, and I cannot mend it» 

I had concluded so in my younger years ; 
I had fasted, and prayed, and spent time in 
hearing, reading, and meditation, and did all 
in my own power, and all to mend my state ; 
but I could not mend it : and as I grew up in. 
years, sin and corruption more prevailed, and 
there was no help ; and I came so far as to 
believe there was no help, and that if God 
did not help me, I was undone to all eternity. 
I many times wished that I had never 
been born ; I went to ministers and meet- 
ings, and to all sorts of separate people, 
and to all manner of ordinances, and to 
all manner of means, to mend this bad 
heart of mine, to see if I could obtain a power 
that would get me victory over my corrup- 
tions ; but my arm was never so long as to 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 427 

reach thereunto j it was far out of my power 
and reach. 

Many have sought to get this power of re- 
forming their hearts and lives, to attain it by 
their own hands, by their own endeavours, 
but they could never do it ; they could never 
better their condition, nor bring forth fruit 
worthy of amendment of life. I wish that 
every one was come to that pass, that they 
knew not which way to turn them, that they 
were come at last to their wits r end; they will 
come to it sooner or later — the sooner the 
better. I have done all I can, I can do no 
more ; I am at my wits' end, and I know not 
what to think concerning my eternal state, 
I know not what to judge of it; I strive 
against my lusts and corruptions, but, for all 
that, they prevail upon me; temptations come 
before me, but I cannot conquer them. O ! I 
am glad when people are come to that pass, 
that they know Hot what to do, but despair of 
their own arms, of their own strength, and their 
own wit, and despair of all other help in the 
world : I am glad of that. * 

But I am not preaching up despair of God's 
grace and mercy ; for let me tell you, when 



428 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

men despair of tbeir own doings, and of all 
outward means and helps, then they are fit 
objects for the mercy of God, and not till 
then: When the Lord looked, and saw that 
there was none to save and deliver, then His 
own arm brought salvation. God will not 
save until then ; God will not reveal his power 
until men have done with their own power; 
they will never trust God, while they think 
they can do something for themselves. All 
the forms of religion, of the .several people of 
this nation, will do them little good without 
the power. 

What is the meaning of that principle, \o 
have such masses, and prayers, and per- 
formances ? What is the meaning of it ? Let us 
search to the bottom. They say we are sin- 
ners, when we pray to God for his blessing, 
and for salvation by Christ ; there is this at 
the bottom, they think these duties and per- 
formances will be very helpful to their state, 
Helpful towards the knowledge of it ; to speak 
plain English, these are their gods. If I speak 
of profane and wicked people, I would say 
their lusts are their gods ; but when I speak 
of righteous people that are mere formalists, 
then I say their duties, as they call them, are 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



429 



Iheirgods: when they bave done all, they 
can do nothing for them, and then they have 
no gods at all, then they are godless ; and if 
God doth not help them, they are undone to 
all eternity. 

When poor creatures are cast out, as it were, 
into the open field, to the loathing of their 
persons— When I passed by thee, saith the 
Lord, and saw thee polluted in thy own bloody 
I said unto thee, live. When I passed by 
thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time 
was a time of love, and I spread my skirt over 
thee, and covered thy nakedness ; yea, I sware 
unto thee, and entered into covenant with 
thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest 
mine. What ! was it a time of love when I 
was such an object in my own eyes, that I 
thought I was the most miserable creature in 
the world, one that could not make a good 
prayer, nor dispute for religion, nor perform 
any duly ; a poor creature cast out into the 
open field, to the loathing of my person, hav- 
ing lost all that I had gained. My name was 
from among the living; my days were passed 
over in sorro.v ; and I said, There is nothing 
but darkness, and death, and misery for me. 
I used all means, and tried all things, saving 



4S0 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

only a living trust in God, a trust in God 
alone, and that flesh and blood cannot do : 
flesh and blood cannot know Him, therefore 
flesh and blood cannot trust in Him. Alas! 
said I, I cannot trust in the Lord, I cannot 
east my soul, and all my concernments, my 
fame and reputation in the world, I cannot 
cast all upon the care of the Almighty; I can- 
not know Him, nor trust in Him. How can I 
do it? Nobody can do it ! They that know 
my Name, saith the Lord, they will put their 
trust in Me : never a truer word was spoken ; 
l)«t how they should know God, and trust in 
Him, says some one, I know not. 

When thou comest once to this pass, to be 
r.t thy wits' end, and not know which way to 
turn thee, nor to whom to run for help, or to 
ask counsel for thy soul's welfare; when thou 
art come to the end of all, and without hope, 
then God reveals himself by his Son Jesus 
Christ. Christ the Son of God is known by 
our coming to Him ; but none can come unto 
Christ, except the Father which hath sent 
Him, draw him. When thou hast done with 
thy gods, and thrown away thy idols to the 
bats and moles, then thou wilt find the Lord, 
and thou, wilt cry out : O that God would 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 431 

have mercy upon me, and lift up the light of 
his countenance upon me ! I am a poor miser- 
able creature ! 

There are many that make such a whining 
and complaining, that they take a pride in 
their very complaints, their hypocrisy is so 
great. I have known some that have prided 
themselves in wording their condition, and 
expressing their miserable case before the 
Lord : but suppose thou canst not speak at 
all, but feelest thyself miserable, thou canst 
not express thy condition ; at such a time as 
this God was drawing thy soul to Christ Jesus, 
the Mediator of it. I have heard of a Medi- 
ator, and that there is Balm in G Head for me, 
that there- is a Physician there, that there is 
one Physician, even Jesus Christ, the Mediator 
of the New Covenant. Thou hast sinned 
against Him, and grieved Him, yet He stands 
with open arms for thee, ready to receive thee, 
and embrace thee. Where stands He? He 
stands at the door and knocks; it is a small 
matter, one would think, to let Him in: (Rev. 
iii. 20.) Behold, I stand at the door and knock, 
and if any man hear my voice, and open the 
door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, 
and he with Me. Here is good news for a 



452 



REVIEW OF THE WORKS 



hungry soul, if any such be here. Christ the 
Mediator, stands at (he door and knocks ; He 
•will come in and sup w it h thee, if thou opencst 
to Him; then we sha!l meet with the Lord's 
Supper: This is the Lord, 1 to ill wait for 
Him ; He will bring his bread with Him, the 
Bread of Life, and the W lie of his kingdom ; 
and the Lord's Supper will be celebrated with- 
out cav lling and jangling. 

Now because we will not pervert the Scrip- 
ture, I would have 3011 that understand books, 
read what Commentators of this and former 
ages say upon this text ; whether they do not 
give it as their opinions, that tins knocking at 
the door, is Christ calling the soulbyhis grace ; 
and that this door is the door of the beait, 
where Christ is calling the soul by his grace 
and Spirit, to let Him in by faith. This is their 
judgment and sense, and their sense is mine, 
and I believe the genuine sense of this text; 
that Christ would have people think He is 
near to them, and would have them open 
their hearts, and receive Him by faith ; for to 
be a Saviour to them. 

No! that, saitb flesh and blood, I cannot 
bear ; I cannot consent to have Him for my 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 423 

Saviour. I will not let Him in, for He is like 
Micuiah to Ahab, He never spake good con- 
cerning me ; for, if i have Him for my Saviour, 
I must part with my lusts and pleasures : if 
there be any other Saviour, I will try, and not 
meddle with Him. He will spoil all our 
mirth and good society ; He will tell me that 
of every idle word that I shall speak, I must 
give an account thereof in the day of judg- 
ment. What ! do you think that I can like 
such a Saviour ? that I can live with such an 
one as will call me to an account for every 
word I speak ? and that, if I speak one idle 
word, judgment will come upon me? No, I 
will try one and another, rather than accept 
of Him upon such terms. I am one that am 
joined to such a church, and enjoy such and 
such ordinances, and such helps; I am in 
covenant with God, and under the seals of 
that covenant; I am baptized, and do partake 
of the Lord's Supper, which is another seal of 
the covenant : I hope it will go well with me. 

I will go something farther. Another saith 
he must have a mediator : I Mill go to the 
Virgin Mary, and offer something to her, 
and pray to her. Saith another, I will g to 



4*1 It E V 1 E w o V T 1 1 1 5 \V O It K s 

Saint James, and Saint John, and other Saints 
to intercede with God for me. They must 
have some mediator. This is the twisting 
and twining of the sons and daughters of men, 
to keep out Christ the Great Mediator, who 
came into the world for this purpose, to de- 
stroy the works of the devil. Alas ! I have no- 
thing left but my bare life and living in this 
world ; I have nothing left me but some 
Utile desire I had to please God ; and that 
he will never judge and condemn me for. 
: iy fake dealing, and buying and selling 
e this, and con- 
•v discoursing of things 
■ ; a ! my carnal fsiendshio/^r the 
y vain fashions ; all this is cor- 
li i! ; these He came on purpose 
y : He came to destroy both the devil 
■ ' h works. 

What ! can a man live in the world and 
never join with the devil? never sin at all? 
never do any thing that the devil would have 
ftim to do ? There is no perfection in this world ; 
no living without sin here. Then I am sure 
there is no unity with Christ here; and if 
there, be no unity with Christ, then there is 
none with God the Father. What will become 



OF STEPHEN CRISP* 435 

of thee now ? What will all the pleaders for that 
opinion say now ? There is something stands 
between God and me, and I shall never have 
peace. And what is that ? It is sin. I would 
have my sin taken away, else I had better 
never have been born. Canst thou remove 
sin out of thy heart? I have tried, but I can- 
not do it ; I have heard of Christ the Mediator 
of the New Covenant; He saith, He came into 
the world, and that for this purpose He was 
manifested, that He might destroy the works 
of the devil. Now sin in my heart is the 
devil's work, I will see if He will destroy that 
for me ; I will trust and rely upon Him, and 
see if his great power can destroy it in me. 

Here people come rightly to believe in Him 
that God hath sent, and to trust in Him ; and 
He will take them in, and like a Surgeon He 
will open their hearts, and let out their corrup- 
tions, though there hath been never so much 
rottenness; and He will heal them, and purify 
them, and pardon them, though they have 
been never so wicked, if they come to Him, 
When thy sins are set in order before thee, 
then thou criestout: O wretched man that 
I am ! who shall deliver me from this body of 
death ? Is it God that hath thought on me, 
2o2 



436 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

and waited to be gracious, and bath borne my 
sins long ? How wonderful is his patience 
towards me ! All these things working in the 
soul, tend to beget a love to God, and fervent 
desires after being cleansed and purified from 
sin, and earnest prayer to the Lord, to make 
the holy fire to kindle, that would burn it up. 
The more the soul trusteth in Christ, the more 
doth this heavenly fire burn up our lusts ; 
and then a man feels a great change in his 
mind. The things, saith he, that I delighted in r 
are now grievous to me ! I hope I shall never 
be found in those things again ; my mind is 
now taken off them. Who took it off ? Didst 
tfiou not strive before to take it off ? I did, but 
I could not do it. 

There are many, I believe, in this assembly 
before the Lord, that are my witnesses in this 
matter, that when they came to Christ the 
Mediator, He changed their minds, and He un- 
tied the devil's fetters. They were tied to 
their sins and lusts ; but He hath unloosed 
them. They are ashamed of those things that 
they formerly took pleasure in. What fruit, 
saith the Apostle, had you in those things, 
whereof you are now ashamed ? So I say^ 
What pleasure have you in sporting, and gam- 



OF STEPHEN CRISP. 



437 



ing, and drinking, and company-keeping? 
What pleasure have you to think on your wan- 
ton discourses ? What pleasure in pride and 
vanity ? What pleasure in wrath and bitter- 
ness of mind? And what pleasure in malice 
and envy ? What pleasure have you in these 
things whereof you are now ashamed? So far 
as you are convinced, you are ashamed to 
think of them ; I am ashamed to think that the 
devil at such a time, by such a temptation^ 
should prevail over me. 

I would to God you were all come to this ? 
to be ashamed ; that you might remember your 
past evil "ways and actions, with sorrow and 
shame. There is a secret joy in this : surely 
it is better to be ashamed than to continue in 
impudence. God hath wrought this change 
at last ; and who shall have the glory of it ? 
God shall have the glory of it, for his own 
works will praise Him. What men do, many 
times they do for their own praise ; but when 
they are at their wits' end, and know not what 
to do, they cast themselves upon their Maker r 
to see if He will have mercy upon them ; if 
not, they must perish ; then, for what He dolh ? 
He gets the glory and the praise. 



4S8 REVIEW OF THE WORKS 

There are some here, that are bound to 
praise God while they have a day to live, for 
what He hath done for them. They could 
never have loved God with all their hearts ; 
but they would have continued strangers to 
God ; and the devil would have led them cap- 
tive at his will; — they would not have loved 
God with all their hearts, had not God first 
Shed abroad his love upon their hearts, and 
constrained them to love Him: it is He that 
hath first loved them, and wrought in them 
both to zcill and to do, of his ozcn good plea- 
sure. Whatsoever we are, we are by the grace 
of God ; this grace is magnified in them that 
believe and obey the Gospel. My friends, 
v. e know there is so much peace and pleasure 
in the ways of God, so much soul-satisfaction 
in walking with God, and in loving Him with 
all our hearts, that I should be glad if every 
one of you were of the same mind, and had 
experience of it. We labour diligently for 
this purpose, and we would set before you 
these two things. 

First, How we may come to know our miser- 
able state by nature. 

And, What a blessed and happy state they 
are in, that have been converted and changed j 



OP STEPHEN CRISP. 439 

that have been translated out of the kingdom 
of darkness, into the kingdom of God's dear 
Son. 

Consider your state by nature is evil; we 
hope that many of you believe the reports of 
the Gospel, concerning the goodness of the 
Lord, his great love in sending his Son into 
the world, to seek and to save you that were 
lost ; and that you believe in Him. And we 
are persuaded, that by the foolishness of 
preaching God will save some of you, that 
you may be his redeemed ones, and trust to no 
other Saviour ; For there is not any name 
under heaven, but the Name of Jesus, by which 
you can be saved. He only can take away 
the sins of the world ; his Spirit, which he pro- 
mised to send into the world when He was 
leaving it, searcheth the heart, and trietii 
the reins. Now I dare proclaim that Holy 
Spirit, to be the Spirit of the God of heaven, 
that now sees what resolution thou art of, and 
what thou art now proposing to do; whether 
to go on in sin, or to return to God. This I 
can speak without blasphemy ; it is God's 
Spirit that searcheth the heart, and knoweth 
thy thoughts and purposes, and convinceth 
thee of thy sin. God hath sent his Son Christ 



440 JtEVIEW OF THE WORKS, &C. 

Jesus into the world to enlighten you, that by 
his light you may see Him, and that by his 
Grace you might receive Him, and that by his 



To Him I commit you all, and th^se words 
that we have spoken in the evidence and de- 
monstration of the Spirit, according as He 
hath wrought in us. 



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